Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison

Last month, Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of murder, but lesser charges and possible jail time were still on the table. As we reported that day, South Africa’s judicial system works much differently than the U.S.

  • In South Africa, there is no jury of peers. The presiding judge has the ultimate say in determining the verdict.
  • If Pistorius is found guilty of culpable homicide, there is no minimum sentence under South African law. Sentencing is, you guessed it, up to the judge.

Today, Pistorius met his fate when the pesiding judge sentenced him to 5 years in prison for the “gross negligence” he displayed when he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on that night in 2013. According to reports, however, Pistorius may only spend 10 months of his sentence in prison and remainder on house arrest.