Prison will ‘break’ Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius rubs his eyes as he sits in court as the sentencing process entered a second day. Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP

Prison will “break” Oscar Pistorius because it leaves physically disabled people vulnerable, the North Gauteng High Court has heard.

“The exposure of the accused to the inmates on his stumps will have severe negative effects on the accused,” probation officer and social worker Annette Vergeer said.

“It will only have a negative impact and in fact place him in danger. It will not assist him, it will break him.”

She said Pistorius would find it difficult to walk on cement and slippery floors in prison.

Vergeer said condoms were freely available in prisons, while sodomy and rape in the overcrowded prisons in South Africa were common knowledge.

“One of the main problems is that the prison environment is not conducive to therapy,” she said.

“Psychological treatment in the prison will be negative … It will break him further.”

She said prisons did not have the facilities to provide therapy because statistics showed that 62% of inmates did not have access to social workers.

Making recommendations, Vergeer said that if the court decided to fine Pistorius it should be “incorporated to address the seriousness of the offence”.

Correctional supervision is a strict sentence and sentencing should play a major role in the prevention of future crimes, said Vergeer.

“It is recommended that the accused be placed under house arrest for the duration of the sentence,” she said

“No specific sentence option was suggested … Sentencing is left in the hands of the court.”

Vergeer said Pistorius was carrying a “heavy load” for the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and that he would continue to carry the load for the rest of his life.

She said the media coverage of his case contributed to his exposure.

“Sentence as direct imprisonment will severely impact on the accused as a person,” she said.

“He does not appear to be such a danger to society that he should be removed … The impact of the death of the deceased has been far worse on him …”

Barry Roux, for Pistorius, led Vergeer as she gave evidence in the athlete’s sentencing procedures.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Vergeer admitted that she was working on the matter in her private capacity.

“It will be the defence that will pay you for this work done?” Nel asked.

“That is in fact so, My Lady,” she replied

As Vergeer spoke, Steenkamp’s cousin Kim Martins sat in the private gallery wiping away tears and shaking her head.

Credit:City Press..