Oscar Pistorius: SANCO calls for harsh sentence
The South African National Civic Organisation on Sunday called for a harsh sentence to be imposed on convicted murderer Oscar Pistorious.
SANCO said in a statement that a harsh sentence would restore confidence of the public in the criminal justice system and finally deliver justice and closure for Reeva Steenkamp family.
"We are hopeful that Pistorious will not escape the minimum 15 year jail sentence for Steenkamp's murder when he appears for sentencing after a protracted legal process that was strenuous for her family," said SANCO National Spokesperson,Jabu Mahlangu ahead of sentencing by Judge Thokozile Masipa in the Northern Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday.
Mahlangu said that the earlier ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal had reaffirmed that South African courts can be trusted to dispense justice for victims of gender based violence.
Judge Masipa had convicted and sentenced Pistorius for culpable homicide for the Valentine's Day shooting that claimed the life of his law graduate and model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The State appealed against the conviction and in December the SCA set aside the culpable homicide conviction and found that Pretorius guilty of murder.
Pistorius tried to lodge a Constitutional Court application to overturn the Supreme Court of Appeal decision. But this was denied and Pistorius has to meet Judge Masipa again on Monday to be sentenced for murder
- Press Release