How South Africa's Olympic star's Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend led to a murder conviction and 13+ years in prison
On the morning of February 14, 2013, South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend, model and paralegal Reeva Steenkamp, four times through a locked bathroom door at his home in Pretoria. The incident would unravel the life of one of the world's most celebrated athletes and spark a legal saga that captivated international attention.
Pistorius, known as the Blade Runner for his dominance in Paralympic sprinting, had become the first double amputee to compete in the Olympic Games. His athletic achievements had made him a global icon. But that reputation would be shattered by the events of Valentine's Day morning.
**The Shooting and Arrest**
Tödliche Schüsse am Valentinstag
Oscar Pistorius erschießt gegen 3:18 Uhr morgens seine Freundin Reeva Steenkamp durch eine verschlossene Badezimmertür in seinem Haus in Pretoria. Er feuert vier Schüsse ab, drei treffen die 29-Jährige tödlich.
Festnahme von Pistorius
Einen Tag nach der Tat wird Oscar Pistorius festgenommen. Er wird wegen Mord, fahrlässiger Tötung und rücksichtslosem Umgang mit Waffen angeklagt.
Urteil: Schuldig der fahrlässigen Tötung
Die Richterin spricht Pistorius vom Vorwurf des Mordes frei, erklärt ihn aber der fahrlässigen Tötung und des rücksichtslosen Waffengebrauchs für schuldig. Er erhält fünf Jahre Haft plus drei Jahre auf Bewährung.
Strafverschärfung nach Berufung
In einem Berufungsverfahren wird das Urteil in Mord umgewandelt und die Haftstrafe auf sechs Jahre erhöht.
Pistorius fired a licensed 9mm pistol through the bathroom door while Steenkamp was inside. Three of the four hollow-point bullets struck her—in the right hip, right arm, and head. She died almost instantly. Pistorius claimed he mistook her for an intruder, believing someone had broken into his home.
He was arrested the same day and formally charged with murder on February 15, 2013, in Pretoria court.
**The Trial**
The trial began on March 3, 2014, in the High Court of South Africa, presided over by Judge Thokozile Masipa. Parts of the proceedings were broadcast live on television and audio, drawing international scrutiny to the case.
In September 2014, the judge delivered a surprising verdict: not guilty of murder, but guilty of culpable homicide (manslaughter) and reckless endangerment with a firearm. Pistorius was sentenced to five years for culpable homicide, with a concurrent three-year suspended sentence for the weapons charge.
However, the verdict did not stand. In November and December 2015, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the culpable homicide conviction and found him guilty of murder instead. On July 6, 2016, he was sentenced to six years.
**A Lengthening Sentence**
But that was not the final word. Prosecutors appealed the sentence, arguing it was too lenient. A subsequent ruling sentenced Pistorius to 15 years total—an effective 13 years and 5 months after accounting for time already served.