'Pistorius should get house arrest, community service'

South African track star Oscar Pistorius should serve three years of partial house arrest and community service for the negligent killing of his girlfriend, a witness said on Monday at the first day of the athlete's sentencing.

The 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic star, whose lower legs were amputated as a baby, was convicted of culpable homicide last month for the shooting of 29-year-old law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.

Maringa also said Pistorius should carry out community service, such as sweeping the streets outside museums in Pretoria. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who is pushing for a lengthy prison sentence, described the social worker's recommendations as "shockingly inappropriate".

Judge Thokozile Masipa will hear arguments from prosecution and defence, possibly for as long as a day each, and from psychological and probation experts before deciding on sentencing.

Earlier the court heard from Pistorius' psychologist Dr Lore Hartzenberg, who said the athlete was a caring, remorseful person who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and sometimes spent sessions weeping as she held him.