--- title: Oscar Pistorius Gets 6 Years for Murder of Reeva Steenkamp description: Judge Thokozile Masina declined to institute the 15-year minimum sentence requested by state prosecutors canonical: https://time.com/4394393/oscar-pistorius-new-sentence-6-years-murder-reeva-steenkamp/ author: Rishi Iyengar article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-06T08:55:57.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:39:57.122Z article:section: Sports og:title: Oscar Pistorius Gets 6 Years in Jail for Girlfriend's Murder og:description: Judge declines to impose minimum 15-year sentence requested by prosecutors og:url: https://time.com/4394393/oscar-pistorius-new-sentence-6-years-murder-reeva-steenkamp/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0009f23a3f940996/69889ac03c163964b245deda/gettyimages-545171214.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5184 og:image:height: 2916 og:image:alt: Oscar Pistorius Is Sentenced In The Trial Over The Murder Of Reeva Steenkamp og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Oscar Pistorius Gets 6 Years in Jail for Girlfriend's Murder twitter:description: Judge declines to impose minimum 15-year sentence requested by prosecutors twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0009f23a3f940996/69889ac03c163964b245deda/gettyimages-545171214.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Oscar Pistorius Gets 6 Years Jail for Murdering Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp > Sponsored content. 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After two trials and over three years of legal complications and delays, the famed South African paralympian will be sentenced for the murder of model Reeva Steenkamp._ by [Rishi Iyengar](https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Jul 6, 2016 8:55 AM UTC by [Rishi Iyengar](https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Jul 6, 2016 8:55 AM UTC South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was [sentenced to six years](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jul/06/oscar-pistorius-sentenced-murder-reeva-steenkamp-live) in prison on Wednesday for fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after the judge declined to impose the 15-year minimum sentence requested by the state for the murder charge Pistorius was convicted of in December. Judge Thokozile Masipa, who presided over Pistorius’ original trial, said the allegation that he had intended to kill Steenkamp was a “misperception,” the _Guardian_ reports. She also added that he seemed “genuinely remorseful” for his actions, contradicting the state’s assertion that he showed no regret. Pistorius, known as the Blade Runner for the prosthetics he used to compete, had spent time in prison in 2014 after initially being sentenced to five years for [manslaughter](http://time.com/3527349/oscar-pistorius-reeva-steenkamp-culpable-homicide-sentenced/) — a charge that was overturned and changed to murder in [December last year](http://time.com/4297257/oscar-pistorius-sentence-murder-reeva-steenkamp/). Critics have accused the South African judiciary of being too lenient on the 29-year-old because of his fame and global prominence. \[[_Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jul/06/oscar-pistorius-sentenced-murder-reeva-steenkamp-live)\] ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] The trial only began on the third of March in 2014. [ MUSIC ] People immediately latched onto the case, and people, unfortunately, enjoy seeing a fall from grace. The state is trying to build up its case suggesting that Pistorius and Steenkamp had a huge fight that night, and in a rage, he had shot her. [ SOUND ]. The biggest point of breakdown, throughout the entire trial, was under cross examination when Gerrie Nel, the prosecutor, presented a video of him firing a high- powered gun at a watermelon. " Here's what you did to Reeva Steenkamp ," and immediately, an image of Reeva Steenkamp's body flashes up on the screens in court. That was the The moment when Pistorius had an absolute meltdown on the stand, and proceedings had to be stopped for quite some time. His story changed at least three times, and ultimately, I think that was why the court ruled him to be such an unreliable and dishonest witness. Pistorius's psychologist was brought to the stand. The trial had to be delayed for 30 days She had diagnosed him with General Anxiety Disorder. This could have potentially affected his behavior on the night that he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp. [ MUSIC ] He was initially sentenced to a culpable homicide charge. The sentence imposes three years imprisonment. Holy suspended Culpable homicide implied that there was absolutely no intent in killing the person that he was firing upon. There was a lot of, sort of, outrage, implying that his fame and people knowing of Across the globe. I think that had possibly influenced the judge. The state was very unhappy with that particular conviction. So they launched an appeal to have that overturned and to be replaced rather than culpable homicide but a murder charge Now, he's going to be sentenced again, but this time on a murder charge. 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