Oscar Pistorius Trial Update, Verdict & Case News: Sentenced to 5-year Imprisonment for Death of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

A Pretoria court sentenced amputee and sprint runner, Oscar Pistorius, with five years jail time for killing his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa announced the decision on Tuesday inside the courtroom, with Pistorius remaining calm despite the punishment. Masipa reportedly said that the decision was "about achieving the right balance - proportionality" as a longer sentence for the runner would mean lack of mercy while a shorter one would send a wrong message to the people.

"It would be a sad day for this country if an impression was created that there is one law for the poor and disadvantaged and another for the rich and famous," the judge explained.

AP Sports noted that the athlete, also known as the "Blade Runner", will stay for 20 months inside prison. After that, he is eligible to be placed under house arrest.

But a New York Times report said that the conversion of jail time to house arrest is not yet automatic and would still need negotiations. Once Pistorius serves half of his sentence, he can already apply for parole, the same report added.

Steenkamp, Pistorius's family react

For the family and relatives of Steenkamp, justice was already served for the South African model. "I'm just glad it's over," the victim's mother, June Steenkamp, was quoted as saying.

Pistorius's family, on the other hand, has accepted the punishment.

"Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society," Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle, told the New York Times.

The decision, however, was met with conflicting views. The ruling was considered a victory and at the same time a heartbreaking failure because for some, it was a very lenient sentence, considering the intensity of the crime committed.

Law student Yazeed Mia told AP Sports that he was surprised that Pistorius was only charged with culpable homicide or negligent killing.

"He's now set a precedent for future crimes. If a man wants to kill his wife, all he has to do is wait for her to go to the bathroom and shoot her through the door," Mia said.

Now that he is facing a definite time in prison, Pistorius's career could be facing a temporary, or worse, a permanent halt. AP Sports said that the 27-year-old athlete, who has bagged six Paralympic gold medals, will not be eligible to play in any events during the term of his incarceration.

Pistorius bagged his first medal during the 2004 Paralympics but he was later on banned from playing against other athletes because of the "unfair advantage" of his blades. According to AP Sports, he was able to appeal the ban, granting him the opportunity to compete during the London Olympics but did not win a medal in any event.