Oscar Pistorius will find out in six weeks' time what punishment he will face after being found guilty of culpable homicide for the death of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was also found guilty of discharging a firearm in a crowded restaurant months before the fatal shooting at his home in Pretoria. He was acquitted of another firearms-related offence and a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
Sentencing
The court has adjourned until 13 October, when the defence and prosecution will make further arguments before sentencing. Both sides could call witnesses to substantiate their arguments, and Pistorius himself could be called back to the stand. The judge Thokozile Masipa will have pre-sentencing documents drawn up, for which various parties will be consulted, including probation and correctional supervision officers.
Masipa has wide discretion over the sentence. Pistorius could face a fine, a suspended sentence, correctional supervision and community service or up to 15 years in prison. The maximum jail sentence for culpable homicide is rarely exercised, and a term of two to seven years seems most likely should Masipa choose prison. In this event, Pistorius would be entitled to seek parole after serving half of his sentence.
Should correctional supervision be seen as appropriate, a wide range of options would be available to Masipa, including community service, reporting to a police station at regular intervals and attending rehabilitation programmes.
Possible prison term
Should he be sentenced to jail, Pistorius would most likely go to Pretoria central prison or Baviaanspoort prison, also in Pretoria. Because of his high profile, he could be seen as a target for fellow inmates. He would probably be given a single cell and be allowed to see his own medical personnel.
He would have to swap his strict training regime for 23 hours of incarceration like other prisoners, and instead of his high-protein, low-carb diet he would get oat porridge and black tea or coffee for breakfast, bread and vegetables for lunch and cooked maize and a piece of meat for dinner. He would also have to give up his specially designed sports apparel and suits for an orange prison overall.
Civil claim
With the criminal case out of the way, Pistorius could face a civil claim from Steenkamp's family for damages including loss of income, trauma and medical expenses.
Appeal
The prosecution could appeal against Masipa's decision to clear Pistorius of murder. They will probably consult with the director of public prosecutions, and will be under increased scrutiny with the Shrien Dewani case scheduled to get under way next month.
