Prosecutors lose appeal to have Judge extend Oscar Pistorius' jail term
Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:56:am Africa
4.1K By Buchi Obichie
South African state prosecutors have failed to convince a Judge to add more years to Oscar Pistorius' prison sentence.
The former Paralympian who shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, had his initial culpable homicide conviction overturned by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeals.
Justice Thokozile Masipa- who handed down the initial culpable homicide conviction- later sentenced Pistorius to six years in prison for murder.
However the legal process did not stop there and the state applied for leave to appeal the sentence on the grounds it was "shockingly inappropriate".
In his application, state prosecutor, Gerrie Nel said, "We respectfully submit that our courts are enjoined to severely punish accused persons who shoot and kill without reason."
However, on Friday, the state failed in its bid to have Pistorius' sentence extended to at least 15 years, after Justice Masipa decided to stick with her original punishment.
The prosecution is now likely to petition the Supreme Court directly.
The former Paralympian who shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, had his initial culpable homicide conviction overturned by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeals.
Justice Thokozile Masipa- who handed down the initial culpable homicide conviction- later sentenced Pistorius to six years in prison for murder.
However the legal process did not stop there and the state applied for leave to appeal the sentence on the grounds it was "shockingly inappropriate".
In his application, state prosecutor, Gerrie Nel said, "We respectfully submit that our courts are enjoined to severely punish accused persons who shoot and kill without reason."
However, on Friday, the state failed in its bid to have Pistorius' sentence extended to at least 15 years, after Justice Masipa decided to stick with her original punishment.
The prosecution is now likely to petition the Supreme Court directly.
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