Oscar Pistorius Trial: Live Stream and Latest Updates on Athlete's Sentencing

Updates from Friday, Oct. 17

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel called on Judge Thokozile Masipa to sentence Oscar Pistorius to 10 years in prison as both the State and the defence issued their closing arguments on Friday.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux told the story of a man totally broken after he shot and killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day, 2013. Roux called for house arrest, insisting the only positive to take from a terrible accident would be to allow Pistorius to serve society and make amends.

However, Nel insisted such a lenient sentence would encourage copy-cat killings, and he urged Masipa to think of the Steenkamp family and the horrendous death Reeva suffered.

The final sentence will be delivered on Tuesday, per Sky News' Alex Crawford:

You can view the trial and follow live updates below (subject to territory):

The Defence's Closing Argument:

Roux began by reminding the court that Pistorius only fired his gun because he believed his life was under threat from an intruder. He reacted due to his disability.

Crawford noted Roux's first key point:

Roux asked Judge Masipa to take this opportunity to allow Pistorius to redress his mistake, outside of a jail, per EyeWitness News' Barry Bateman:

Perhaps controversially, Roux then labelled Pistorius a "victim," insisting he was ripped apart by "biased" media and tarred by the brush of premeditated murder:

Roux reminded Judge Masipa that Pistorius has already lost everything, including his career and financial opportunities.

He hinted that, instead of further punishment, Pistorius needs help to reform:

The defence lawyer next chose to list similar cases in which the accused mistakenly shot when fearing danger. He highlighted the fact that jail time was not dished out.

Karyn Maughan of eNCAnews provides details of one such case:

Roux then directly addressed the possibility of jail, insisting there is no benefit to locking Pistorius away, given the amount of charity work he has done: 

Crawford provided an overall summary of the main points Roux pressed home to Judge Masipa. These will be the arguments by which Masipa decides whether house arrest is suitable for Pistorius:

The Prosecution's Closing Argument: 

Gerrie Nel started his closing argument by immediately reminding the judge that precedent will be set by the decision she takes in front of the watching world.

He reminded Judge Masipa of the facts, telling her that an innocent girl died a horrific death behind a closed toilet door, shot by a man who used devastating black talon bullets.

He then hinted that Pistorius had tried to influence a more lenient sentence by offering a sum of money to the Steenkamp family:

Nel mocked the defence's claim that Pistorius has suffered enough because he has lost the chance to "make millions" in his career.

He fought back his own tears as he repeated his belief that house arrest is pitiful punishment for the act of killing an innocent girl in such awful circumstances:

Nel then switched from emotion to technical facts. He reminded the court of the degree of negligence shown by Pistorius, not least the fact that he never checked with Reeva if she heard the noise that sparked his fear:

Nel, predictably, addressed the defence's claim that Pistorius is the victim. To the contrary, Nel said Pistorius is yet to acknowledge he had done wrong:

Nel claimed Pistorius is now using his disability to avoid prison time. He pointed out that Pistorius has spent his entire life fighting to be treated as an equal:

The prosecuting lawyer concluded that jail is the only suitable outcome:

Crawford once again provided a summary of the prosecution's closing argument:

Court adjourned until Tuesday.

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 16

Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee left the court in tears on Thursday after claiming she was being intimidated while sat on the benches witnessing the ongoing trial of her brother.

Sky News' Alex Crawford provides the details:

Siphiwe Sibeko/Associated Press

After the State called its final witness on Thursday, closing arguments will now be entered by both the defence and prosecution on Friday, before the judge delivers her verdict on Tuesday, according to Crawford:

Pistorius was told on Thursday that South African courts are fit to house him in the event of a prison sentence. The Paralympian icon is facing a potential 15-year prison sentence for culpable homicide after he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day, 2013.

Alon Skuy/Associated Press

His defence team highlighted to the court that Pistorius would be exposed to disease and physical threats if incarcerated, but prison boss Zac Modise insisted South African courts compare to those in the UK and US.

Thursday's session began with Kim Martin, Steenkamp's cousin, returning to the stand. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked what she thought of Pistorius' public apology to the Steenkamp family, delivered ahead of his testimony.

Martin's response was not glowing, per Crawford:

Martin also hit home something of blow to the defence, insisting the family is afraid of Pistorius, whom must pay for what he has done, noted by Crawford and EyeWitness News' Barry Bateman:

The State's next witness then replaced Martin in the stand. Bateman provided the details:

Modise has many years of working in correctional services, and was called upon by the State to help prove South African prisons are fit to house Pistorius.

He began by confirming Pistorius' needs can all be met in prison, including a single cell and medical treatment. He painted a picture that Pistorius can be reformed behind bars:

Modise did, though, admit that a gang culture is evident in South African prisons:

Nevertheless, he told the court that South African prisons "compare favourably" to UK and US jails. He summarised that they are fit for Pistorius' incarceration:

At that point, defence lawyer Barry Roux began his cross-examination, instantly highlighting that South African jails are under severe pressure for an increase in rape incidents. 

Roux pointed out a number of concerning aspects linked to prison life in South Africa:

Roux also forced Modise to admit a damning statistic about medical staff, and claimed disease is rife in South African prisons, per Gia Nicolaides of EyeWitness News:

Following a two-hour lunch break, court adjourned until Friday morning, when closing arguments will be delivered. 

Original Text

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel believes any result other than a prison sentence will be "shockingly inappropriate" for Pistorius, as noted by Sky News.

Nel ruthlessly cross-examined defence witness Annette Vergeer earlier in the week. The probation officer insisted Pistorius would be "a broken man" if he went to prison. Nel, however, believes a sanction that is "too light" could lead to public backlash, as noted by Alex Crawford of the aforementioned station:

Defence witness and state correctional officer Joel Maringa believes three years' house arrest and 16 hours of community service per month is the correct punishment for Pistorius' crime, per Erin Conway-Smith of The Telegraph.

Nel is expected to reveal what punishment the prosecution believes Pistorius should receive by the end of Thursday, per Crawford:

"

#PistoriusTrial Nel indicates he hopes to finish by tomorrow. Seems the Judge at least wants this wrapped up this week

— Alex Crawford (@AlexCrawfordSky) October 15, 2014"

Masipa will make her decision without the aid of a jury. The final verdict will signal the end of a trial that has captured the attention of millions.

The defence hopes Pistorius can avoid jail altogether, while the State is pushing for incarceration. The final verdict will largely come down to how negligent Masipa deems Pistorius to have been, as well as how beneficial she believes prison would be to the athlete's reformation.