The court could impose a sentence lower than the 15-year minimum for murder if there are strong mitigating circumstances. He testified that Pistorius was seriously ill with depression and anxiety and should not be in prison, but instead should be in a hospital. Nel countered that no one admitted him to a hospital when he was released by the parole board. But because Pistorius did not testify, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the court had no way to judge whether he was truly remorseful over the killing at his home in 2013. It also found that Pistorius had never offered a satisfactory explanation for his actions, a finding Nel hammered in his final address to the court.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 15, 2016 21:27 UTC