The former goldenboy of athletics has today been dramatically convicted of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius has today been sentenced to six years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The Olympic and Paralympic icon repeatedly shot the 29-year-old model after she barricaded herself in the bathroom of his home in Pretoria on February 2013.He was sentenced at North Gauteng High Court this morning to gasps in the courtroom as the sentence - far below the recommended 15-year jail term - was read out.
Pistorius sat in the courtroom with his head bowed ahead of sentencing and at times sobbed quietly in the dock before the six-year sentence was delivered.
Judge Thokozile Masipa described Pistorius as a "fallen hero and broken man" who is suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Disabled runner who became ground-breaking Olympian
Back in 2012, nothing could go wrong for Pistorius.
But, determined and ambitious, he did not stop there. The South African wanted to race against able-bodied athletes at London 2012.
After overcoming objections from the governing body for athletics, as well as other athletes, Pistorius became the first double leg amputee to take part in the Olympics with other able-bodied athletes.
Not content with that, he also won two gold medals in the Paralympics, setting two world records in the process.
He was an international star, inspiring millions around the world and with a long career ahead of him.
'A healthy, fabulous relationship'
Away from the athletics track, Pistorius had formed a close relationship with South African model Reeva Steenkamp.The couple were first spotted together at a sports awards event in November 2012.
Ms Steenkamp was a celebrity in South Africa and had been named as one of the 100 sexiest women in the world by men's magazine FHM.
She was also incredibly smart, graduating in law from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.
The 29-year-old was signed up to appear in a celebrity TV reality show called Tropika Island of Treasure.
The pair looked set to become one of South Africa's most famous couples.
Valentine's night shooting
South Africa and the rest of the world were left stunned when Ms Steenkamp was shot and killed by Pistorius on Valentine's Day in 2013.
The model was in the bathroom of the athlete's £265,000 house on the outskirts of Pretoria when he fired four shots through the door.
Neighbours in the upmarket Silver Lakes gated community told police they had heard shouting and screaming earlier in the night.
Police also revealed they had been called to the house on previous occasions after reports of "a domestic nature".
In the hours that followed, Pistorius was arrested and charged with murdering his girlfriend.
He was described as being distraught over Ms Steenkamp's death.
"We can't comment on his emotional wellbeing, but he is traumatised after losing someone close to him," a police spokesman said.
A dramatic, global trial
Pistorius denied murdering his girlfriend, telling police he thought she was a burglar in his home.
And so on March 3, 2014, Pistorius took to the dock on the opening day of one of the most high profile trials of modern times.
The judge also decided that parts of the trial could be broadcast live on television.
Pistorius told the court through his lawyer that he thought Steenkamp was in bed when he shot four times through the toilet door, acting in self-defence.
The court was told the Paralympian thought his life was in danger when he killed Reeva.
But feared prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Pistorius had told “snowball of lies" and demanded he face the “consequences".
He told the court: “He knew there was a human being in the toilet.
"His intention was to kill a human being…. Then m'lady, he is guilty of murder."
Verdict and sentence
On September 12, 2014, Judge Masipa reached her long-awaited verdict.She dismissed the prosecution case that Pistorius murdered his girlfriend.
Instead, she found him guilty of culpable homicide - a charge similar to manslaughter.
Pistorius appeared to wipe away a tear as the sentence was handed out as Judge Masipa said: "For a very good reason a sentence should neither be too light, nor too severe.....
"A non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message. The following is a sentence that I consider to fair and just."
'Angry' Pistorius arrives in prison
Pistorius was sent to Kgosi Mampura 11 prison in Pretoria.The Paralympian struggled to adapt to prison life, being forced to spend 23 hours a day in his tiny cell.
Prison officer Violet Ngobeni met with Pistorius on a number of times.
"When he arrived he was angry," Ngobeni told CNN.
"The first time I went to see him he was like 'I don't want to talk to anyone.'"
Ngobeni said: "He just talked about 'I miss my family, I need to spend more time with my family, just to go out and see my friends.'"
Pistorius was released from jail in secret on October 19 to serve the remaining four years of his sentence under house arrest.
Despite Miss Steenkamp's family saying Pistorius' time in prison was "simply not enough", the Paralympian went to live at his wealthy uncle’s home in Pretoria.
Little was seen of Pistorius during his time under house arrest.
However, he was pictured celebrating his 29th birthday surrounded by his young cousins.
Wearing a navy t-shirt, he was surrounded by the ten grandchildren of his Uncle Arnold.
The picture was snapped by his Aunt Lois and posted on Twitter to celebrate the disgraced Olympian's 29th birthday - the same age Reeva was when she died.
Pistorius convicted again - but this time for murder
Despite being released from jail, Pistorius still faced an appeal in the Supreme Court.Prosecutors wanted the 29-year-old's conviction of culpable homicide to be overturned, arguing that he intended to murder his girlfriend.
And today, a leading South African judge agreed with prosecutors and convicted Pistorius of murder.
Judge Lorimer Leach dismissed Pistorius' argument that he was acting in self-defence, finding that there was no rational basis for him to have feared for his life.
Six years for murder
There were audible gasps as Judge Masipa delivered the six-year sentence - far below the recommended 15 years.Explaining her sentence, the judge told the court Pistorius had suffered severe mental health problems since Reeva's murder.
She said: "He is a fallen hero, he has lost his career and his ruined financially. Having taken a human life in the way he did, he cannot be at peace.
"Since the offence he has developed a serious psychiatric condition which has got worse over the past few years.
"He has severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has become isolated and fearful of venturing out in public.
"Recovery is possible but it will depend mostly on the accused's attitude to the punishment imposed upon him."