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Prosecutor says Pistorius should spend at least 10 years behind bars

He will be sentenced on Tuesday.

South Africa Pistorius Trial AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

THE JUDGE IN the trial of Oscar Pistorius today announced he will be sentenced on Tuesday, with the prosecutor calling for at least 10 years in prison.

After hearing closing arguments from both sides, Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned the hearing until Tuesday at 9.30 am (8.30 am Irish time).

Pistorius, the world-famous Paralympian, was last month convicted of culpable homicide for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

He was also convicted of a firearms charge for carelessly firing his gun in a restaurant in January of that year.

He faces up to 15 years in jail for culpable homicide, and this morning state prosecutor Gerrie Nel launched a scathing, last-minute criticism of Pistorius, and called for a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

“The minimum term that society will be happy with is 10 years in prison,” Nel said.

The deceased died in a small cubicle behind a closed door. Three bullets ripped through her body.This is a serious matter. The negligence borders on intent.

Oscar Pistorius AP AP

Nel also dismissed defence lawyer Barry Roux’s claim that his client shot into the bathroom occupied by Steenkamp because he was feeling “extremely vulnerable and anxious.”

In the prosecutor’s view, Pistorius had been “shameless” in using his disability as “an excuse.”

The defence, meanwhile, has pleaded with Judge Masipa for a non-custodial sentence.

Culpable homicide is comparable to manslaughter and Masipa has a wide range of options on Pistorius’ sentence.

She could issue a suspended jail sentence and a fine, order the 27-year-old to go under house arrest, or send him to prison for up to 15 years.

On Monday, the court heard testimony from a social worker who said a sentence of “correctional supervison” under house arrest would be more appropriate than jail, in this case.

Pistorius’s consellor, Lore Hartzenberg said he was a “broken man” whose remorse and pain at killing Steenkamp were genuine.

Contains reporting by the Associated Press.

Read: Community service suggested for ‘broken man’ Oscar Pistorius>

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23 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Hannigan
    Favourite Thomas Hannigan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:41 AM

    Hailo raised it percentage take and lost taxi drivers.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Smith
    Favourite Jonathan Smith
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:54 PM

    When was that?just curious

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Meleady
    Favourite Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:42 PM

    Hailo charge 12% commisssion, that’s it. No €79.00 or €99.00 a week with Citycabs/Global/Lynk.

    4
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Meleady
    Favourite Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:46 PM

    Still has over half the Dublin fleet at 7,000+

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:19 AM

    Hailo will lose more drivers if they keep uping the aunty with price and rules silly rules !

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Meleady
    Favourite Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:48 PM

    You can’t up an “Aunty”, well maybe you can. Upping the ante is another thing. lol

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:04 PM

    They do take credit card but yes you do have to sign up first

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Morgan
    Favourite Liam Morgan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:42 AM

    They lost me when they stooped the use of their credit card facilities for non bailout jobs/customers it was extremely handy

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:05 PM

    What is a non bailout job or customer

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:07 PM

    I think he misspelled it ……..its meant to read non hailo jobs as in you used to be able to take credit card jobs of the street now the customer has to download the app if they want to pay by card…….stupid idea from hailo…

    11
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Hailo have added the option to pre book now so that’s not a unique feature for lynk

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Hailo had to add that feature because it was the next step …….and to keep up with other apps that have that feature before them ….e.g…cab:app

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Meleady
    Favourite Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:59 PM

    My husband left a cab company recently. The company sold the controlling share to the guy named above. They thought that they could sell the drivers rent as part of the business package, (Approx’ €5K per year),forgetting that the drivers hire the cab company to supply them with work, and they work for the driver. Not wanting any association withthe new owners, he fired them.

    He wondered why, as he calls it “the Weakest Lynk”, chose the exact same colour branding as Hailo? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.

    5
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
    Favourite Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Lynk taxis. €25 free sign up. €5 per journey if you pay by card but wait there’s a €3 booking fee before you sit in the taxi. It is removed after you use your “free” €25. So, free €10 sign up.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:02 PM

    They can’t charge €3 for booking ! €2 is max Hailo don’t charge for booking

    6
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
    Favourite Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 8th 2015, 8:57 AM

    They do. I got a taxi that usually costs less than €5 and cost me over €8. Minus the “five” free. When you contact them they say that is taken off when your €25 is up.

    1
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    Mute James Cleary
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:09 PM

    I always use the lynk app ( Irish owned company)

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:44 PM

    To be fair Hailo was set up by 3 guys one Irish

    9
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    Mute James Cullen
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    Apr 7th 2015, 6:39 PM

    it was set up back 3 London black cab drivers

    4
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