LONDON — Oscar Pistorius would be at risk of attack in South Africa’s violent jails, a defence witness has told the court on the second day of his sentence hearing.
Probation officer Annette Vergeer said the Paralympian would be particularly at risk as a double amputee.
The prosecution described earlier defence calls for a community service sentence as “shockingly inappropriate”.
Pistorius has been found guilty of the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but cleared of murder.
The defence is trying to show prison would be an inappropriate punishment. Yesterday Annette Vergeer — who was paid to work for the defence — said that without legs Pistorius would be “a lot more vulnerable than the normal man”.
She added that she had recently handled the case of an inmate who had been sexually assaulted in prison. “How can we say that he won’t be exposed to that?”
The athlete, she said, would “only deteriorate” in prison. “There is also no facility to cater for the accused’s disability.” Gerrie Nel’s aggressive style has been a hallmark of the trial.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested Vergeer’s claims about conditions in South African prisons were exaggerated as she had rarely visited them.
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On Monday, he was angered by a call by another defence witness for the sentence to be house arrest and community service. Nel labelled this a “shockingly inappropriate” punishment.
Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa — who has been presiding over the trial in Pretoria — may suspend the sentence or impose a fine. She said the athlete had acted negligently when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last several days.
Early on Tuesday, the proceedings centred on Pistorius’ charity work.
— BBC Sport
