Judge Thokozile Masipa said the athlete had to be punished for murdering the model and law student but said he had already served 12 months in prison for the previous manslaughter conviction and was remorseful for what he had done.
She said that the athlete would have to serve a custodial sentence because his conviction had been upgraded from manslaughter to murder.
But she added: “I am of the view that a long term of imprisonment would not serve justice in this case.”
The state had called for him to receive no less than the 15-year minimum sentence, after his manslaughter conviction was upgraded to murder on appeal.
JudgeMasipa, who heard the original trial, told the court: “Public opinion may be loud and persistent, but it can play no role in the decision of this court,” as she delivered the verdict. She said the Paralympian was a “fallen hero.”
Pistorius’s lawyers have argued he should not return to jail because of his anxiety and depression. Court proceedings three weeks ago saw Pistorius hobble across the courtroom to demonstrate his physical vulnerability.
After the judge delivered her verdict, Reeva’s parents June and Barry had no immediate reaction but their lawyer indicated the result was “fair”.
However the judge said she would hear any requests to appeal her judgement from the state or the defence today.
Last month before the sentencing proceedings began, a source close to the prosecution told The Telegraph they would appeal if the judge handed the athlete less than eight years in prison.
“If all goes according to what we would really like to happen, in the worst-case scenario it would be 10 years,” the source said. “We think she might go down to eight. You would expect the system to work and we will do the best we can. We can only hope for the best but she has disappointed us before.
“If we get a pittance of a sentence, make no mistake we will appeal.”
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