Just days before Oscar Pistorius learns of his fate in the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp, prosecutors announced for the first time that they are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for the Paralympic athlete.

Pistorius, who is also known as the "Blade Runner," fatally shot Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013. The South African Olympic champ pleaded not guilty to first degree murder, arguing that he shot her by mistake because he thought she was a home intruder.

Last month, he was found not guilty of first degree murder, but guilty of culpable homicide, a lesser charge also known as manslaughter. The double-amputee runner now faces anywhere between 15 years in prison to house arrest, report Fox News.

According to prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Pistorius should serve at least a decade behind bars for shooting his girlfriend.

"The minimum term that society will be happy with will be 10 years imprisonment," Nel told the court during his sentencing hearing on Friday, according to the Guardian. "This is a serious matter. The negligence borders on intent. Ten years is the minimum.

"The deceased died in a small cubicle behind a closed door. Three bullets ripped through her body."

Later, he said, "This is a serious matter. The negligence borders on intent," reports The Huffington Post.

On the other hand, Pistorius' chief defense lawyer argued that the pro-athlete did not act with "deviousness" when he killed Steenkamp. Instead, he said that he felt vulnerable and anxious.

"The accused's actions were to some extent dominated by vulnerability and anxiety," defence lawyer Barry Roux said. "When you come to sentence ... you have to look at the actions with his frame of mind."

Roux went on to claim that Pistorius has already suffered emotionally and financially since the Valentine's Day shooting.

"He's lost everything," Roux said of Pistorius. "He was an icon in the eyes of South Africans.

"He's not only broke, but he's broken. There is nothing left of this man. ... [He] hasn't even the money to pay for legal expenses. He has nothing left."

Pistorius' lawyers are pushing for him to be sentenced to three years of house arrest and community service with no jail time.

Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to deliver a sentence on Tuesday.