Pistorius’ brother and sister, Carl and Aimee, gave interviews to a South African television station on the eve of the sentencing, describing what they said was a difficult and emotional time in the more than a year-and-a-half since their brother killed Steenkamp.
“It has been a long journey to this point,” Aimee Pistorius told eNCA. “A very taxing one. It is difficult to support someone through something like this — all the guilt and ridicule and obviously the exposure that has come with it.”
Carl Pistorius said: “Tomorrow will be very difficult. This is a weight we all have to carry.”
During his sentencing hearing last week, Pistorius’ chief defense lawyer called social workers and a psychologist who testified that the athlete had suffered significantly already, both emotionally and financially.
“He’s not only broke, but he’s broken,” chief defense lawyer Barry Roux said of Pistorius. “There is nothing left of this man.”
Pistorius’ defense team also argued that South African prisons cannot cater for his disability and he would be vulnerable. Roux even cited an alleged threat against Pistorius by a reputed prison gang leader.