Oscar Pistorius' sister thanks judge after athlete's six-year sentence for Reeva Steenkamp murder
Aimee Pistorius is 'grateful' for Judge Masipa's comments that Ms Steenkamp's death was not an act of gender-based violence
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The sister of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has thanked a judge after her brother was returned to jail for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius, 29, was handed a six-year prison sentence on Wednesday following a successful appeal to upgrade his original conviction of culpable homicide to murder. The athlete, whose legs were amputated below the knee as a child, was on his stumps when he shot Ms Steenkamp, a law graduate and model, four times through a locked bathroom door in his home.
In an interview with eNCA, Aimee said Ms Steenkamp's death was a “terrible accident” which highlighted his fears and vulnerabilities. She said she was "grateful" to Judge Thokozile Masipa, sentencing, for highlighting her belief that the killing was not an act of gender-based violence.
“The thing I'm most grateful and the thing I really appreciate is the emphasis she made to distinguish a difference between the facts and the truth in terms of this is not a gender-based violence situation," she said.
“It's a terrible accident where Oscar had no intention of shooting Reeva. A lot of hurt has been created and on top of that, there is already in this tragedy, that there's this lie being perpetuated that there was violence that there was an argument and that there was intention to shoot Reeva, which is not true and there hasn't been anything to support that.”
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Thokozile Masipa referred to Pistorius as a “fallen hero” who believed an intruder was behind the door, not Ms Steenkamp.
Judge Masipa was branded “an embarrassment to the justice system” by Members of the Women's League of the ruling African National Congress (ANCWL) for delivering a sentence lower than the prescribed minimum of 15 years in South Africa.
Lawyers for Pistorius' legal team have said they will not appeal his sentence. The state has 14 days to decide whether it will launch an appeal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments