PRETORIA
The sentencing of internationally recognized South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius began Monday at Pretoria's North Gauteng High Court with testimony from the convicted athlete's personal psychologist.
"Pistorius was denied the opportunity to mourn the person he loved," Dr. Lore Hartzenberg told the court on Monday in her testimony.
Hartzenberg, who has been treating Pistorius for the past 18 months, says he showed remorse over his girlfriend's death and was frequently emotional.
"Frequently, he was too emotional for sessions to proceed and we had to reschedule," she told the court Monday during sentencing procedures expected to take one week, as both the defense and prosecution try to persuade the presiding judge of their arguments.
Pistorius, dubbed the "blade runner," was found guilty of culpable homicide last month in the killing of his model-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day of last year.
The athlete's legal team is expected to present four witnesses who will testify in a bid to convince the judge that Pistorius had been greatly affected by the accidental death of his girlfriend and that he regretted the incident.
However, the prosecution is also expected to call two or three witnesses who will try to convince the judge that Pistorius deserves a harsher sentence.
Last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa was widely criticized by both laymen and legal experts who said she had been too lenient with the double-amputee athlete when she convicted him of culpable homicide. Many had hoped he would be found guilty of murder.
The psychologist said the athlete had had plans for the future with his late girlfriend, since he had paid a deposit on a house that he wanted to share with her.
Hartzenberg noted that the media had negatively portrayed Pistorius, which, she said, had greatly impacted him and had deprived him of a chance to heal.
"He lost the mutual friends he shared with Reeva," the psychologist told the court.
Pistorius is now likely to receive a short jail sentence – a correctional supervision sentence at his home or a mere fine – since he is a first-time offender and showed remorse during his trial.
The high-profile trial has been ongoing for six months and has heard testimony from 37 witnesses.
Regardless of the sentence handed down to Pistorius, the country appears set to remain to divided on the case, the Anadolu Agency correspondent said.
Activists advocating for women rights are expected to protest outside the Pretoria High Court to show solidarity with Steenkamp's family.
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