South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was on Tuesday sentenced to five years in jail for culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day of last year.

Presiding Judge Thokozile Masipa also handed down a three year suspended sentence to the athlete for contravening the fire arms act.

She said the five-year culpable homicide conviction will run concurrently with the suspended sentence.

The 27-year-old Paralympian was accused of murdering his model-girlfriend at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day (February 14) of last year. He also faces three other charges.

The double amputee athlete – dubbed the “blade runner” – fired shots at the closed door of his bathroom, killing Steenkamp – whom he allegedly mistook for an intruder – instantly.

•Source: Anadolu Agaency (AA). Photo shows Oscar Pistorius during sentencing.