Oscar Pistorius arrives in court for day two of sentencing hearing
Oscar Pistorius has arrived in court in Pretoria for the second day of his sentencing for the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The first session will begin with the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel’s cross-examination of the athlete’s agent Peet Van Zyl.
The court has been protected this morning by six armed guards covering all entrances after Judge Thokozile Masipa was sent threats regarding her sentencing decision.
Pistorius faces a number of possible punishments after being found guilty of culpable homicide, including a prison sentence, house arrest and community service.
On day one, psychologist Lore Hartzenburg told how the Paralympian had become a broken man who has lost everything; a man unlikely to ever recover from the trauma of shooting his loved one.
Pistorius has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Hartzenburg added that his platform to make a difference to the lives of other disabled people was taken away from him, adding to his pain.
Prosecutor Nel, however, argued how it was Steenkamp’s family who are suffering the most pain at the loss of their beloved daughter and that a penalty of house arrest or community service would not befit the crime Pistorius committed.
Pistorius was found not guilty of murdering Steenkamp after the court found there was no basis to conclude he had intended to shoot her, but Judge Masipa admitted that he acted negligently.
Pistorius was also found guilty of firing a Glock pistol under a table at Tasha’s restaurant a month before Steenkamp’s death.