Family stand by Pistorius ahead of sentencing

Oscar Pistorius' siblings Aimee (left) and Carl Pistorius (right) outside the court where the athlete was found guilty of culpable homicide. Photo / Gettys

The family of Oscar Pistorius say they'll stand by the Paralympian when he arrives in Pretoria for sentencing for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Carl and Aimee Pistorius say they'll support their brother "regardless of the outcome" after he was cleared of murder but convicted of culpable homicide.

"I do not doubt my brother at all," Aimee said in an interview with ITV News.

"I have the privileged position of knowing his strengths and his faults, as you do when you are close as we are.

"When I first heard what happened my first reaction was shock and devastation and extreme heartache. My first thoughts were that - knowing my brother, the kind of person he is and his fears - he must have thought it was an intruder.

"(I thought that) before I even knew any of the facts.

"I saw two people who really just adored each other and had a fantastic friendship. They were a good match, they were both strong people."

Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to announce Pistorius' sentence today after she found him guilty last month of culpable homicide for negligently killing Steenkamp.

Prosecutors say Pistorius should serve at least 10 years in jail, while defence counsel have called for a community sentence or house arrest.

Carl Pistorius said the family would stand by the athlete.

Oscar Pistorius cries in court in Pretoria, South Africa, at his sentencing hearing last week. Photo / AP

"We cannot speculate ahead of sentencing, but what I do know for certain is that regardless of the outcome the three of us will stand together and continue to stand together like we always have," he said.

"Oscar is genuine. What you see is what you get - he's real."

Pistorius killed his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013 when he shot through the bathroom door.

The athlete, who had his legs amputated as a baby, said he thought he was firing at intruders.

Read next: Pistorius to learn his fate later today

- PA