Pistorius sentenced, from EME News, note by Larry Eder

Oscar Pistorius, Daegu 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net

Pistorius sentenced
PRETORIA (RSA): South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has received a prison sentence of 5 years for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, inform AP and AFP. Judge Thokozile Masipa also sentenced Pistorius to three years in prison for unlawfully firing a gun in a restaurant. She ordered that this sentence be wholly suspended. Pistorius could be released after 10 months in jail to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. However he will not be allowed to compete in IPC events until the 5 years are completed. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said that the prosecution had not yet decided whether they would appeal, saying, “We have 14 days to consider the law and we will (need to) be sure that the facts and law will allow us to appeal.” Pistorius’ sentence starts immediately.

(Editor’s note: Everything about this drama, followed by millions around the world, is tragic. Oscar Pistorius was an amazingly touching story: a young man, without lower limbs, who could run like the wind. The celebrity pictures of Oscar and his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, added to the story.

Now that Mr. Pistorius has been sentenced, the coverage will hopefully lessen and the Steenkamps can hopefully find some peace. Mr. Pistorius may be the one still alive, but his life as a world class athlete, and Olympic hero, is over.)

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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