Oscar Pistorius won't appeal sentence

Pistorius was found guilty of shooting and killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in his Pretoria East home, in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013. 

In handing down sentence, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled that the mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating ones, and that is why she decided to deviate from the minimum sentence of 15 years for murder. 

The Pistorius family, though spokesperson Anneliese Burgess, said they respect the sentence imposed on the athlete.

"The family has, throughout this process, made it very clear that they respect the rule of law and they respect the legal process and that's exactly the same position they have today."

Burgess said it was difficult to speak about the family's emotions, when asked to comment by the media.

"I don't feel it's appropriate for me to speak about their emotions, but I mean it's been a long, very difficult process. It's been almost three and a half years now and I think it's been harrowing and very draining," Burgess said.

Video by Maryke Vermaak