Pistorius goes on his stumps to beg judge for mercy
OSCAR Pistorius suffered the humiliation of teetering around a court room on his stumps yesterday in a desperate bid for leniency.
The South African paralympic star appeared distressed as he removed his prosthetic limbs for the televised proceedings. The 29-year-old must now wait three weeks to learn his sentence for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp three years ago.
In the dramatic third day of his sentencing hearing, defence and prosecution lawyers played their trump cards in a last-ditch attempt to sway Judge Thokozile Masipa.
Barry Roux, for Pistorius, said the double amputee did not want to ‘hide behind his fame’ as a star of the athletics world. Pistorius stared fixedly at the ground and clutched on to a bench while his family and supporters joined him in sobbing.
Mr Roux argued he should be spared further punishment behind bars, emphasising his remorse and successful rehabilitation. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel demanded a minimum sentence of 15 years.
Pistorius’s original manslaughter verdict was upgraded to murder on appeal. He has served one year in prison for the killing in Pretoria.