Lawyers: Oscar Pistorius Too “Broken” to Serve More Jail Time

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Summary: Oscar Pistorius’s lawyers have asked that he not serve more jail time because he is a “broken man.”

Convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius doesn’t want to serve any more jail time. It seems like his lawyers may be inspired by Brock Allen Turner’s case. They’re arguing that Pistorius, a former Paralympic athlete, is too sad and anxious to serve more time in jail.

  

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• Related article: Convicted Murderer Oscar Pistorius Released on $686 Bail

On Monday, the gold medalist known as Blade Runner for his prosthetic legs sat in court for a weeklong sentencing hearing. Pistorius was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, model and lawyer Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Steenkamp was in a bathroom when Pistorius shot her through the door. He claimed that he thought she was an intruder. He was originally given a culpable homicide ruling, but a Supreme Court later overturned that conviction and gave him the harsher sentence of murder.

CNN reports that in Pistorius’ original conviction, the judge ruled he was negligent but not intentionally trying to kill when he shot at the door. However, the Supreme Court said that the identity of whoever was in the bathroom was irrelevant. Shooting at the door meant that he was shooting to kill.

Pistorius faces up to 15 years in prison, but his lawyers say he is too mentally unwell to serve the time. Clinical psychologist Jonathan Scholtz testified on his behalf, saying he was “broken” and that he suffered anxiety and depression after news of his crime broke out. He said the athlete was on medication for PTSD and depression, and that he would recommend Pistorius spend time in a mental hospital.

• Related article: Oscar Pistorius Evaluation: Not Mentally Ill

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel didn’t seem to sympathize with Pistorius. She pointed out that he had agreed to a television interview during the period when he was allegedly unwell, and she said that he was only feeling sorry for himself, not actually expressing true remorse for his horrific deed.

After the murder, Pistorius, an avid firearm collector, sold all of his weapons and vowed to not own any more guns. He is currently serving under house arrest at his uncle’s mansion. Before that, he served time in a private cell in a maximum security prison.

The sentence is expected to be given on Friday.

Do you think Pistorius’ argument is valid or is this just a classic case of feeling bad after getting caught? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: CNN