海角大神

The five-year prison sentence handed down to Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend last Valentine鈥檚 Day has prompted some strong reactions from those concerned about the message it sends about domestic violence cases in South Africa and beyond.

Judge Thokozile Masipa cited 鈥済ross negligence鈥� on the part the double-amputee runner in her sentence, which she said was a balancing act between retribution and clemency.

鈥淚 am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send a wrong message to the community,鈥� Masipa said after summarizing parts of the case and explaining why she reached her decision. 鈥淥n the other hand, a long sentence would not be appropriate either as it would lack the element of mercy.鈥�

The five-year sentence could actually mean as few as 10 months in prison, with Pistorius serving out the remainder under house arrest.

This is not sitting well with many who have taken to social media to express their disgust.

鈥淧istorius鈥� ridiculous sentence says a lot about how the court puts racial and male privilege above the safety of women,鈥� tweeted

鈥�#Pistorius鈥� five-year jail sentence, ten months of which will be served in prison, belittles domestic violence against women.鈥� added .

The verdict quickly created 聽鈥�#nojustice鈥� as a trend, with others using the hashtag #ThingsLongerThanOscarsSentence.

Meanwhile, the sentencing has angered some who say the trial has distracted from non-celebrity domestic violence.

An estimated 2,361 women in South Africa have been since Steenkamp鈥檚 death, according to a Mama Mia posting, which doesn't give a source for the figure. If accurate, that鈥檚 four women each day.

鈥淲e will likely never know these women鈥檚 names and we will never know their stories. Nor will we ever know whether the men who murdered these women were brought to justice or whether they evaded punishment. Such is the nature and extent of the problem,鈥� wrote Nina Funnell. 鈥淎nd if we genuinely care about the life and ambitions of Reeva Steenkamp 鈥� who was herself an advocate against gender-based violence 鈥� we can鈥檛 continue to ignore this problem.鈥�

Some have compared the trial saga to that of OJ Simpson, who was accused and acquitted of killing his wife, in the United States.

Early on in the trial the Monitor reported Pistorius鈥檚 fame and media frenzy had many dubbing it 鈥�South Africa鈥檚 OJ Simpson 迟谤颈补濒.鈥�

The comparisons were reawakened after what some considered a light sentencing.

But not all reaction to the sentencing has been negative. Some offered support to Steenkamp鈥檚 family and praise of Masipa鈥檚 handling of the trial.

鈥淧istorius five-year sentence reflects Judge Masipa鈥檚 judicial objectivity wisdom & humanity shown throughout trial,鈥� tweeted .

The Economist reported that Steenkamp鈥檚 family and friends .

鈥淚t鈥檚 right,鈥� said her mother, June Steenkamp, smiling gently, as she left the courtroom.

South Africa鈥檚 News24 reported the head of the National Prosecuting Authority said he would discuss with prosecutors, adding that senior prosecuting staff were 鈥渁gitated鈥� about the outcome of the case.