Pistorius walks across courtroom without prosthetics at sentencing hearing
Former track star and double amputee Oscar Pistorius removed his prosthetic legs and walked across the courtroom in a shocking scene at his sentencing hearing for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013.
The New York Times had video of the scene:
Pistorius' legal team is trying to convince the South African court of his client's limited mobility and disability status before the hearing ends and a final sentence is decided. His lawyers are arguing that Pistorius deserves leniency for the crime, which calls for a 15-year minimum sentence.
He was originally acquitted of murder, but found guilty of culpable homicide in Steenkamp's death, but prosecutors won a murder conviction on appeal. Pistorius appealed the second decision but was denied.
Defense attorney Barry Roux called Pistorius "a broken man" and pointed out his client's actual physical stature was nowhere near his normal 6-foot appearance with prosthetics. He also claimed Pistorius had made several "enemies" during his legal fight.
NPR has more from the courtroom proceedings:
The hearing is expected to continue through Friday and then Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to deliver a sentence in July. Masipa is also the judge who originally acquitted Pistorius of murder.
