A South African appeals court on Thursday convicted Oscar
Pistorius of murder, overturning a lower court’s conviction of the
double-amputee Olympian on the lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp to death in 2013.
Pistorius of murder, overturning a lower court’s conviction of the
double-amputee Olympian on the lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp to death in 2013.
Justice Lorimer Eric Leach of the Supreme Court of Appeal
delivered the ruling by the five-judge appeals court in Bloemfontein and
directed the trial court, the North Gauteng High Court, to impose sentence.
delivered the ruling by the five-judge appeals court in Bloemfontein and
directed the trial court, the North Gauteng High Court, to impose sentence.
“The accused ought to have been found guilty of
murder,” Leach said to the courtroom, in which Steenkamp’s mother sat.
murder,” Leach said to the courtroom, in which Steenkamp’s mother sat.
A 15-year prison sentence is the minimum punishment for
murder in South Africa. However, the law allows for a lesser sentence to be
imposed in exceptional circumstances.
murder in South Africa. However, the law allows for a lesser sentence to be
imposed in exceptional circumstances.
Pistorius was placed under house arrest in October after
serving one year in prison. He had been sentenced to five years in prison for
manslaughter. His lawyers can also argue that he should be shown leniency
because he is disabled.
serving one year in prison. He had been sentenced to five years in prison for
manslaughter. His lawyers can also argue that he should be shown leniency
because he is disabled.
Pistorius, 29, killed Steenkamp in the early morning of
Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Valentine’s Day in 2013.
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