Pistorius accused of trying to use his disability to avoid prison

After waiting 267 days, Oscar Pistorius will soon learn his fate, and the prosecution says it is simple – the killer must be jailed.

Judge Thokozile Masipa is due to hand down her sentence on Tuesday, after the Blade Runner was found guilty of culpable homicide – known in Australia as manslaughter – over the fatal shooting of his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day last year.

“The minimum term that society will be happy with, will be 10 years imprisonment sentence.” Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court.

But the blade runner’s lawyer remains convinced that Pistorius shouldn’t serve a single day behind bars for shooting Reeva Steenkamp dead.

“He’s lost everything. He was an icon in the eyes of South Africans,” defence lawyer Barry Roux said yesterday.

“He lost all his sponsors. He lost all his money. He has nothing, my lady.”

Pistorius claims to have had his life ruined with his lawyer saying said his client is a “victim” in the court saga over the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

But the prosecution reacted angrily saying the double-amputee was trying to exploit the fact that he was disabled to avoid a jail term.

“Disturbing that a man, that wanted to compete with able-bodied athletes, never acted as a disabled person, would shamelessly use this as an excuse and mitigating factor,” Mr Nel said.

Still many believe the one time Olympic hero will escape with just a period of home detention.

The court will hand down the much anticipated sentence on Tuesday night, Australian time.