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Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is set to appear in court today, July 6 to be sentenced for the murder of former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Today's sentence marks the latest chapter in a lengthy and polarizing legal battle. On Feb. 14, 2013 Pistorius fatally shot his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door in his Pretoria, South Africa home, claiming he mistook her for an intruder.
He was originally acquitted of her murder and sentenced to five years in prison for “culpable homicide” – a charge similar to manslaughter in Canada – in September 2014 after a lengthy trial.
Here is a list of Oscar Pistorius Trial Timeline
• Feb. 14, 2013: Oscar Pistorius shoots girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door.
• Aug. 19, 2013: Pistorius appears in Pretoria Magistrate's Court to be served with the state’s indictment.
• March 3, 2014: Pistorius’ trial for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp begins.
• Aug. 8, 2014: Pistorius’ case concludes after final closing arguments.
• Sept. 12, 2014: Pistorius is acquitted of murder and convicted of culpable homicide (similar to manslaughter).
• Oct: 21, 2014: Pistorius is sentenced to a maximum of five years imprisonment for culpable homicide.
• Nov. 4, 2014: Prosecutors apply for permission to appeal the culpable homicide verdict citing a five year prison term as "shockingly light, inappropriate and would not have been imposed by any reasonable court".
• Dec. 10, 2014: Prosecutors are granted permission to appeal the verdict and Pistorious’ case is presented to a five person panel at the Supreme Court of Appeal.
• June 2015: Pistorius is recommended for early release for good behaviour, for not being a danger to the community and for serving a sixth of his sentence.
• Oct. 19, 2015: Pistorius is released from prison and put under house arrest.
• Dec. 3, 2015: Prosecution’s appeal is heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal. All five judges make a unanimous finding and overturn Pistorius’ culpable homicide conviction and find him guilty of murder.
• Dec. 8, 2015: Pistorius granted bail to house arrest pending an appeal to the South African Constitutional Court.
• March 3, 2016: Pistorius’ appeal to the South African Constitutional Court is denied.
• June 13, 2016: Pistorius appears in court to start the sentence hearing for the murder conviction, but the sentencing was adjourned until today, July 6, 2016.
Today's sentence marks the latest chapter in a lengthy and polarizing legal battle. On Feb. 14, 2013 Pistorius fatally shot his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door in his Pretoria, South Africa home, claiming he mistook her for an intruder.
He was originally acquitted of her murder and sentenced to five years in prison for “culpable homicide” – a charge similar to manslaughter in Canada – in September 2014 after a lengthy trial.
Here is a list of Oscar Pistorius Trial Timeline
• Feb. 14, 2013: Oscar Pistorius shoots girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door.
• Aug. 19, 2013: Pistorius appears in Pretoria Magistrate's Court to be served with the state’s indictment.
• March 3, 2014: Pistorius’ trial for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp begins.
• Aug. 8, 2014: Pistorius’ case concludes after final closing arguments.
• Sept. 12, 2014: Pistorius is acquitted of murder and convicted of culpable homicide (similar to manslaughter).
• Oct: 21, 2014: Pistorius is sentenced to a maximum of five years imprisonment for culpable homicide.
• Nov. 4, 2014: Prosecutors apply for permission to appeal the culpable homicide verdict citing a five year prison term as "shockingly light, inappropriate and would not have been imposed by any reasonable court".
• Dec. 10, 2014: Prosecutors are granted permission to appeal the verdict and Pistorious’ case is presented to a five person panel at the Supreme Court of Appeal.
• June 2015: Pistorius is recommended for early release for good behaviour, for not being a danger to the community and for serving a sixth of his sentence.
• Oct. 19, 2015: Pistorius is released from prison and put under house arrest.
• Dec. 3, 2015: Prosecution’s appeal is heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal. All five judges make a unanimous finding and overturn Pistorius’ culpable homicide conviction and find him guilty of murder.
• Dec. 8, 2015: Pistorius granted bail to house arrest pending an appeal to the South African Constitutional Court.
• March 3, 2016: Pistorius’ appeal to the South African Constitutional Court is denied.
• June 13, 2016: Pistorius appears in court to start the sentence hearing for the murder conviction, but the sentencing was adjourned until today, July 6, 2016.