South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is back in court for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp last month.
Oscar Pistorius during the judgment in his murder trial where he was found guilty of culpable homicide. Photo: AFP
Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month, but was cleared of murder.
Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to hear legal arguments and testimony for several days before passing sentence, the BBC reports.
Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Masipa could suspend the sentence or only impose a fine.
She said the athlete had acted "negligently" when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but in the "belief that there was an intruder".
The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day, 14 November, last year, saying he shot her by mistake.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through the door by Mr Pistorius at his home in the capital Pretoria. However, the judge said the state had failed to prove that he intended to kill.
Pistorius' personal psychologist Lore Hartzenberg told the courtroom today that Pistorius was "very emotional" during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and crying.
Ms Hartzenberg said he felt "vilified and humiliated" by the media and social media networks, making him feel "utterly worthless".
Reeva Steenkamp with Oscar Pistorius. Photo: AFP