Oscar Pistorius sentencing hearing begins

The sentencing trial of disgraced Olympian Oscar Pistorius is set to begin on Monday.

The sentencing is for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, after his original conviction was upgraded from the lesser charge of manslaughter last year.

Pistorius was denied a leave to appeal his conviction by the Constitutional Court, South Africa’s highest court.

Pistorius, widely known as the Blade Runner denies the charge. He faces a minimum 15-year jail sentence.

In April, both legal teams agreed on five days of argument to be heard from June 13 to 17. The pre-sentencing arguments will be heard at Pretoria High Court.

Pistorius has been out on bail since December 2015 after he was found guilty of murder for shooting Steenkamp.

The blade runner shot Steenkamp in the early hours of February 14, 2013, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

Reuters