Breaking News : Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 5yrs imprisonment

Finally the south African government has just sentenced Oscar pistorius to 5yrs in imprisonment  on
culpable homicide, which in south africa means killing unintentionally but unlawful.

according to CNN : the family of Pistorius is expected to make a statement shortly..... more after the cut.

From a globally lauded athlete to convicted killer, Oscar Pistorius' fall from grace culminated Tuesday with a five-year sentence in the shooting death of his girlfriend.

The sentence was imposed for the charge of culpable homicide, which in South Africa means a person was killed unintentionally, but unlawfully.

Under South African law, he will have to serve at least one-sixth of his sentence -- 10 months -- before he can ask to be considered for parole.

Pistorius was also given a three-year sentence on a firearms charge, but it was suspended for five years on condition he's not found guilty of another crime where there's negligence involving a firearm during that period.

That count related to an occasion when Pistorius discharged a loaded handgun under a table in a busy restaurant. No one was hurt.

During his trial, the double-amputee sprinter often sobbed at the mention of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's name. He insisted that he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door on Valentine's Day 2013.

But there was very little visible reaction from Pistorius as the sentence was read.

Question of appeal

The prosecution had asked for a minimum prison sentence of 10 years for Pistorius.

 

After the ruling Tuesday, South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said it has not yet decided whether to appeal Judge Thokozile Masipa's verdict that Oscar Pistorius is not guilty of murder.

Pistorius' defense has called for a sentence of house arrest and community service.

There was no immediate reaction from the defense team on the sentencing.

Pistorius' family is expected to issue a statement shortly.