published Jul 6th 2016, 3:44 am, by Paul Burkhardt

(Bloomberg) —
Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to six years in jail for murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day three years ago.

Judge Thokozile Masipa handed down the sentence, which was less than half of the recommended jail term for murder, at the South African High Court on Wednesday as June and Barry Steenkamp, Reeva’s parents, watched from the public gallery. Pistorius, 29, showed little reaction as the judge read her judgment.

“A long-term of imprisonment will not serve justice in this matter,” she said. “The accused has already served 12 months, he is a first offender and he is not likely to re-offend.”

Masipa originally convicted Pistorius of manslaughter and gave him a five-year sentence. In December, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he was guilty of murder, citing “errors of law” in the first verdict. The Constitutional Court decided on March 3 that Pistorius couldn’t appeal the murder conviction.

Known as the Blade Runner because of his J-shaped prosthetic blades, Pistorius was granted 10,000-rand ($669) bail and ordered to remain under house arrest. He’s been serving part of his previous sentence for culpable homicide at his uncle’s home.

Pistorius won six Paralympic gold medals and was the first double-amputee runner to compete at the Olympic Games. He was born without fibula in both legs, which were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Burkhardt in Johannesburg at pburkhardt@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net Karl Maier, Vernon Wessels
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