Summary

  • Today's top headlines:

  1. Pistorius has his head downpublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Pistorius has his head bowed as he listens to the sentencing judgement:

    Oscar PistoriusImage source, Reuters
  2. More on public opinionpublished at 09:23 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Judge: "Public opinion is no substitute for the duty vested in the court.

    "Public opinion may be loud and persistent but can play no role in the decision of this court."

  3. More on 'misperception' about an argumentpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  4. 'Not court of public opinion'published at 09:19 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Our courts are courts of law, not public opinion, says Judge Masipa.

  5. Public 'misperception'published at 09:17 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Nothing can diminish the pain suffered by the deceased's family. 

    But the "misperception" that there was an argument between the victim and accused on the night of the killing cannot be ignored, the judge says.

  6. 'Exercising discretion'published at 09:15 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  7. Pistorius tried to apologisepublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  8. Mitigating factors consideredpublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Judge: "I take the view that mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating factors."

  9. 'No remorse' rejectedpublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  10. Apologies to the Steenkamp familypublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    It must be one of the most difficult things for an accused to meet his victim's family to apologise, the judge says. 

    The Steenkamp family rebuffed Pistorius' attempts, she said. 

    She says the accused would not have sought to do so unless he meant it.

  11. June Steenkamp glancing over at Oscar Pistoriuspublished at 09:13 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    A BBC reporter tweets about Reeva Steenkamp's mother:

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    June SteenkampImage source, Reuters
  12. Aggravating and mitigating factors: 'Felt vulnerable'published at 09:10 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    Each case should be decided "on its own peculiar facts", the judge says. The court must consider aggravating and mitigating factors in each case, she says.

    An aggravating factor in this case was that the accused fired four shots from a high-calibre firearm knowing someone was behind the door of the toilet and it was a small space. He used the firearm without taking precaution or firing a warning shot.

    A mitigating factor was that he thought an intruder had got in. 

    He was without his prostheses and felt vulnerable.

  13. Judge Masipa continues readingpublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    The judge has been reading her sentencing judgement for more than half an hour now.

    Judge MasipaImage source, Reuters
  14. Barry Steenkamp 'seeming more composed today'published at 09:06 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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    Barry SteenkampImage source, Reuters
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  15. Any 'special or compelling' circumstances?published at 09:04 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  16. Discussing 15-year termspublished at 09:03 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  17. The effect on the Steenkamp familypublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

    It is clear from the evidence that the Steenkamps "had a very close bond", the judge says. She says "they feel the loss deeply". 

    The judge refers to the heavy toll on the health of Reeva Steenkamp's parents.

    She says Barry Steenkamp has trouble sleeping and often gets up at 03:00.

  18. Judge deals with loss of Steenkamp familypublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  19. 'Unprecedented level of interest'published at 09:00 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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  20. Sentencing hearing live on TVpublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 6 July 2016

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