PRETORIA, South Africa — Disgraced Olympic star Oscar Pistorius left a South African courtroom Tuesday with little more than a wrist slap — as little as 10 months in prison for gunning down his gal pal Reeva Steencamp.
Pistorius was sentenced to five years for the slaying of the gorgeous 29-year-old model inside his home on Feb. 14, 2013, but his defense team claims the double-amputee sprinter, who captured the world’s imagination by running in the 2012 London Olympic Games on J-shaped prosthetics, could be out in 10 months.
He’d serve the rest of his time under house arrest, under the sentence handed down by Judge Thokozile Masipa.
He was led away from court to start his sentence immediately.
Last month, Masipa had found the “Blade Runner” guilty of culpable homicide — the South African equivalent of manslaughter — but cleared him of murder charges, which infuriated the African National Congress’ Women’s League.
Pistorius, 27, has claimed he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and fatally shot her to death through the bathroom door.
Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013Reuters“The following is what I consider is a sentence that is fair and just both to society and the accused,” Masipa said in her ruling.
The judge said no one should believe Pistorius got off easy because he’s wealthy and powerful.
“It would be a sad day for this country if an impression were created that there is one law for the poor and disadvantaged, and one law for the rich and famous,” she said.
Nathi Mncube, the prosecution spokesman, said his office is disappointed in the culpable homicide conviction and has not yet decided whether to appeal the sentence.
Pistorius could have gotten as little as probation, under the wide sentencing options available to Masipa. But her sentence fell well short of the 15 years Pistorius could have received.
Amazingly, Steenkamp’s family said they were satisfied with the light sentence.
“Justice was served,” family lawyer Dup De Bruyn said, calling it “the right sentence.”
The International Paralympic Committee Tuesday imposed a ban on Pistorius from competing in any of its games until his full sentence is completed in 2019.
He’d be free to come back for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, but Pistorius would be almost 34 and presumably out of world-class shape from being locked in his own home.
