Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius was sentenced today in a South African court today for the shooting dead of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

The Olympic and Paralympic athlete appeared at the court in Pretoria, where Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to pass sentence on the 27-year-old.

The seven-month trial of the sprinter, known as the "Blade Runner", has been closely watched by many South Africans and others around the world.

On the eve of the sentencing, Pistorius' family spoke of the love they had for Ms Steenkamp, 29, who died when the athlete fired four 9mm rounds through a bathroom door at his home.

Speaking to South African television station eNCA, Pistorius' sister Aimee said her family "could never understand" what Ms Steenkamp's parents are going through.

"It's an impossible situation and we could never understand, but it's important for us that they know she was very much cared for and loved and accepted as part of our family in the short time she was with us," she said.

"If you knew Reeva you didn't need to know her for very long for her to just creep into your heart.

"She had a wonderful charisma and zest for life that she just exuded and it was easy to fall in love with her."

Last month, Judge Masipa ruled Pistorius did not intend to kill his girlfriend when he fired through the bathroom door on Valentine's Day 2013.

Pistorius' legal team argued during the marathon trial that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and believed they were in danger.