Judge Thokozile Masipa has sentenced on Tuesday Oscar Pistorius to five years in prison, for culpable homicide in the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

On the last day of one of the most sensational trials in South African history, the Paralympic sprinter who was convicted of culpable homicide in September 12 for shooting his girlfriend, 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp was escorted by armed police into court, past a huge crowd of reporters.

In her verdict last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa cleared Pistorius of murder, saying the state had failed to prove his intent to kill Steenkamp when he fired four rounds through the door of a toilet cubicle.

Pistorius claimed he fired in the mistaken belief an intruder was hiding behind the door at his home.

Masipa said that the killing was legally negligent and convicted Pistorius for culpable homicide, which can still carry up to 15 years behind bars.