Oscar Pistorius’ Prison Sentence Increased, Will Serve 13 Years, 5 Months More

Oscar Pistorius will be spending much more time in prison than originally believed.

OSCAR PISTORIUS MURDER SENTENCE NEWS

The South African double-amputee former Olympic sprinter had his sentence more than doubled Friday by the country’s Supreme Court, from six years to 15 years. However, the court deducted the time Pistorius has already served either in prison or under house arrest, which he means he has 13 years and five months remaining on his sentence.

Prosecutors called his initial six-year term “shockingly lenient.” South African law sets 15 years as the suggested minimum for murder, though this can be reduced depending on the circumstances.

Pistorius, 31, was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, with a gun in his home in Pretoria in February 2013. He claimed he mistook her for an intruder. Steenkamp, 29, was a model and law graduate. The runner had become a hero in his country for overcoming his physical disability and had been dating Steenkamp for several months. The record-breaker was the first-ever amputee to run at the Olympics.

Following his initial trial in 2014, Pistorius — nicknamed “Blade Runner” for the curved prosthetics that help him compete — was charged with manslaughter, although that was later changed to murder on appeal. He was imprisoned for six years beginning July 2016.

Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June, were “emotional” as they watched the verdict being delivered  live on television at their home.

Pistorius’ brother, Carl, wrote on Twitter: “Shattered. Heartbroken. Gutted.”

Pistorius failed with an appeal to the Constitutional Court last year to challenge his murder conviction. He was reportedly not in court on Friday to hear the decision on his sentence. He could likely be moved to a different prison now that his sentence has increased.