Storyline: The verdict (6 years in prison) doesn’t tell us anything about the value of a human life. But it does speak volumes about the value of a woman’s life against a man’s life.
Courtesy: dailymail.co.uk
Four years ago, Oscar Pistorius was an inspiration, a national hero.
Pistorius lost both of his legs below the knee when he was just 11 months old. But he went on to become the first amputee to win a non-disabled medal in world track. And, in the 2012 Summer Olympics, Pistorius became the first double-leg amputee to participate in the Olympics.
Today, Oscar Pistorius is a convicted killer.
Earlier this week Pistorius was sentenced to 6 years in prison by a South African court for the murder of his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. On the morning of Valentine’s Day 2013, the Olympic champion killed Steenkamp–a model and law student–by shooting her four times through the bathroom door.
Courtesy: CNN.com
The prison sentence rendered this week came more than a year after a South African court found Pistorius not guilty of murder, but guilty of culpable homicide and reckless endangerment with a firearm.
What can be said about a 6-year sentence for killing another human being? The ANC Women’s League called his 6-year prison sentence “an insult to women and to the Steenkamp family.”
I agree. The South African justice system failed in this case.
Judge Thokozile Masipa, whose sentence at the initial manslaughter trial was criticized by women’s groups as too lenient, said she had accepted the defense argument that a lesser punishment was appropriate. “Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court,” Masipa said. “I am of the view that a long term in prison will not serve justice.” The life of the accused shall also never be the same. He is a fallen hero and can never be at peace.” She went on to say his career is in ruins.
Courtesy: NYDailyNews
In my opinion Oscar Pistorius is a cold-blooded murderer. Six years is not even half of what he deserves. Even though he killed his girlfriend, Pistorius will be a free man by the time he’s 35 years old. His whole life will be ahead of him.
What a joke! The verdict is white male privilege in action, an embarrassment to the South African justice system. The verdict doesn’t tell us anything about the value of a human life. But it does speak volumes about the value of a woman’s life against a man’s life.
Ms. Steenkamp’s father, Barry, was emotional during the sentencing hearings. He told the court: “/I think/…there was an argument (between Steenkamp and Pistorius) around the time of her death. She must have been in so much fear and pain. That is what I think of all the time. I visualise that I can see it myself. It must have been absolutely and utterly awful.” He told reporters that they will “leave the prospects for an appeal…to the state.”
Pistorius was reported to say: “Reeva wouldn’t have wanted me to spend my life in prison.”
I’m sure Reeva didn’t want to be murdered by the man she trusted, either.
wonderful insight to a tragic event