Oscar Pistorius sentenced to five years in prison

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius  killed his girlfriend on Valentine's Day in 2013 when he shot through the bathroom door and into Ms Steenkamp. He has also been handed a three-year term suspended for five years for a firearm offense.

The amputee athlete, known as the Blade Runner, stood staring straight ahead as Judge Thokozile Masipa announced his sentence for killing the model. The 27-year-old athlete always argued that he thought he was firing at intruders

The Paralympian could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, handed a community-based punishment and a fine or house arrest for shooting the model through a toilet cubicle door in his home.

More than seven months after Pistorius's trial started, Judge Thokozile Masipa announced what punishment she decided on after finding him guilty of culpable homicide, which is comparable to manslaughter, but acquitting him of murder.

Pistorius was asked by the judge to remain seated on a wooden bench in the Pretoria courtroom until she formally announced his sentence. He sat and looked straight ahead at Masipa as she read from her judgment.

Before delivering the sentencing, Masipa spoke of achieving the 'right balance', including the interests of society, but admitted that reaching a 'proper sentence' was a 'challenge'. 

The judge was at pains to point out that South African prisons were 'equipped' to house a double amputee, and added: 'The accused has shown he has excellent coping skills'.

The courtroom was packed, reflecting heightened media and public interest ahead of the sentencing, with police officers standing guard in the aisles.