The relatively light sentence was surprising as it fell well bellow the minimum 15 years sentence for murder prescribed by South African law.
READ: Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 6 years for murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
In her judgement, Judge Thokozile Masina, said that because of the chance of rehabilitation and remorse shown by the South African athlete, she couldn’t hand down the minimum sentence for the crime.
As can be expected, Twitter went wild in reaction with the overwhelming majority condemning the judgement.
See the reactions below.
#OscarPistorius let’s face it. If he’d of been a black man murdering a white woman he’d have got 60 years not 6. Unbelievable.
— ~~*Jo*~~ (@jodiddley_o) July 6, 2016
#OscarPistorius was a guilty man from the start. 6 years is a show of how the justice system is rotten if not non-existent. Cry Africa, CRY
— Brian Obuya (@ThisManObuya) July 6, 2016
21 months in prison for tax fraud. 4 years and 3 months less than for murdering your wife. The world. #Messi #OscarPistorius
— Bethany Cole (@coleb86) July 6, 2016
Lot of blacks been sitting behind bars for the crimes they didnt even commit but Oscar gets 6years for murdering someone#OscarPistorius
— Zamoe (@Xbiss1) July 6, 2016
#OscarPistorius murdered his girlfriend and got 6 years! We get killed for just being. All it takes is one 911 phone call. #AltonSterling
— Throw Up & Theology (@RevLaurelJ) July 6, 2016
We know Judge Masipa got bribed, 6 figures in trade for 6 years #OscarPistorius
— OOTY (@KABXLO) July 6, 2016
Mandla Chauke was given 77 years for killing a Rhino. #OscarPistorius gets 6 years for killing his girlfriend which he may get out in 3yrs
— Tsodiyo (@tokelonhlapo) July 6, 2016
#OscarPistorius has to be worst liar I have ever seen on TV,the prosecutor tore his arguments to Pieces and still 6y pic.twitter.com/2I8g0VRV7V
— George Bakhos (@GeorgeBakhos) July 6, 2016
Once again Judge Masipa shows her soft spot for #OscarPistorius
— Moira de Roche (@moiraderoche) July 6, 2016
#OscarPistorius #SixYears pic.twitter.com/4f3lpfqIpB
— Nomsa Tshingowe (@nomsachingowe) July 6, 2016
50 years ago,this would be a street protest and police would shoot #OscarPistorius
Wait,that happens in the US for no reason#AltonSterling
— Mu_palo (@PaloLaBelle) July 6, 2016
@reevasteenkamp is dead for #life #OscarPistorius gets #6Years #MakesNoSense #RIPReeva pic.twitter.com/tniw6yx6fO
— Morgan Kunkel (@EledaNagrom) July 6, 2016
#OscarPistorius gets 6 yrs, he’ll be out in 2. This is the justice we’ve been waiting for? Feel sick!
— Perpetua (@AAPerpetua) July 6, 2016
Maybe she meant 16 years #OscarPistorius #JudgeMasipa pic.twitter.com/UiPf033KOb
— IG: tebohoramos (@tebohoramos) July 6, 2016
No Fields Found.Man steals cattle Sentence: 80 years Man kills woman Sentence: 6 years WTF #OscarPistorius #ReevaSteenkamp pic.twitter.com/sJhPC5mrLb
— Nkosinathi Mlotshwa (@nathimlotshwa) July 6, 2016
