The sentence given to Oscar Pistorius for killing Reeva Steenkamp is “worryingly short”, according to a domestic violence charity.
The amputee athlete, known as the Blade Runner, has been jailed for five years, following a televised sentencing which lasted for more than an hour on Tuesday morning.
But a member of Pistorius’s legal team claimed after the hearing that he is expected to serve just a sixth of the sentence – around 10 months – in jail before being held under house arrest.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said the charity is “disappointed” at the length of the sentence.
“Although we are pleased he has received a custodial sentence, the length of the sentence is worryingly short, given the severity of the crime.
“Violence against women is a very serious issue, and two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner in this country alone.
“Strong sentences are essential to show perpetrators of violence against intimate partners that society and the law take their violence seriously.”
Meanwhile, Bethan Cansfield, policy manager at Womankind Worldwide, described violence against women as a “global pandemic”, and said short sentencing sends the wrong message.
“Although Womankind does not comment on individual cases, low levels of convictions and short sentencing given to perpetrators of violence against women is rampant across the world – these violate a woman’s right to justice and send a strong message that states do not take violence seriously,” she said.
Pistorius, 27, was also given a three-year sentence suspended for five years for a firearms offence.
The judge handed down an immediate prison term for the charge of culpable homicide, saying she believed a non-custodial sentence would “send the wrong message to the community”.
Pistorius killed Ms Steenkamp, 29, in the early hours of February 14 2013 when he shot her through the bathroom door at his home in Pretoria. He insisted he thought he was firing at an intruder.
Ms Cansfield added: “We hope that high-profile cases like Oscar Pistorius lead to serious debate and action on how we end violence against women and girls for good and ensure women wanting to leave violent relationships have access to appropriate services.”