MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti) – South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius should be imprisoned for a minimum of 10 years for killing his girlfriend, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel said at the close of the track star's sentencing hearing Friday.
"This is a serious matter. The negligence borders on intent. Ten years is the minimum," Nel said as quoted by Reuters.
"We shouldn't fail the parents. We shouldn't fail society. Society may lose its trust in the court," Nel stressed, adding that "the minimum term that society will be happy with will be 10 years imprisonment".
Earlier, defense attorney Barry Roux said that the six-time Paralympic champion should be given community service.
"He wants to make good as far as possible. Serious regard should be given to a community-based sentence so something good can come out of this," Roux said as quoted by Reuters.
South African judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to give a final sentence to Pistorius on Tuesday, October 21.
Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in the early hours of February 14, 2013. According to the athlete, he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and fired his 9-mm pistol four times through a closed bathroom door.
In September, the 27-year-old track star was found guilty of culpable homicide but was cleared of premeditated murder by Judge Masipa in a ruling found unjust by many, including the Steenkamp family.
