Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius' sentencing hearing going on in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Friday that the double amputee athlete should either get 10 years in jail or house arrest and community service.
Presenting closing arguments for sentencing Pistorius' defence lawyer Barry Roux called for the principles of ubuntu and restorative justice to be applied to the case. Roux said that serious regard should be given to a community-based sentence, to restorative justice.
On the other hand, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that the negligence Pistorius had been found guilty of, and which led to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's death, was so serious that only a jail sentence would suffice. He said that the only, but only reasonable sentence would be long-term incarceration, Sport24 reported.
Pistorius would hear his final sentence on Tuesday.
Judge Thokozile Masipa, after sentencing procedures concluded, said that she wants to thank both counsel for their assistance and co-operation in this matter, and added that she is very impressed that the counsel conducted themselves in the way they did.
Roux said that society had become used to the idea that prison was the punishment of choice. Instead he called for punishment that addressed the interests of all parties based on the principle of ubuntu.
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Pleading for mercy for Pistorius, Roux said that his client had lost everything. He said that Pistorius has lost his immovable property, moveable property and sponsors.
Roux said that it is a person that's down and out, adding that Pistorius is broke. He added that the double amputee has nothing and he hasn't even money to pay for legal expenses.
Pistorius wiped tears from his eyes and sobbed quietly as Roux spoke. Roux said that Pistorius became the victim of negative media reports.
Roux said that how Pistorius crushed Reeva Steenkamp's head with a cricket bat, how he murdered her because he was taking steroids, how he took acting lessons; that is what the athlete was subjected to. He added that the athlete is not a cold-blooded murderer.
Meanwhile, Nel said that Pistorius should not use his disability to avoid jail.
On 12 September, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide for the Valentine's Day 2013 shooting of his girlfriend Steenkamp. The court found him not guilty of murdering her.
Pistorius shot Steenkamp through the locked door of his toilet, claiming he thought she was an intruder about to emerge and attack him. She was hit in the hip, arm, and head, the report added.