South African Prosecutors Appeal Oscar Pistorius Verdict

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkgaTFqETW1-sT_1Vw11dudIPq0tQcXpehe3y1O79t_2HZYlGkcMOsIeWATYPb07Qqn6scWsxVCpwu3LsGW52GfnflDh9gIhJ3zh_AfvKih_CBqosRat2PXW7H4Nehe0Zqm9J9U6P5Zs/s1600/Pistorius.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkgaTFqETW1-sT_1Vw11dudIPq0tQcXpehe3y1O79t_2HZYlGkcMOsIeWATYPb07Qqn6scWsxVCpwu3LsGW52GfnflDh9gIhJ3zh_AfvKih_CBqosRat2PXW7H4Nehe0Zqm9J9U6P5Zs/s1600/Pistorius.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Report By</i> <b>Darren Boyle</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> South African prosecutors on Tuesday filed an appeal against the sentence and conviction of star Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who last month was sentenced to five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the National Prosecuting Authority: 'Today, we announce that the NPA filed the application for leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence. The appeal on conviction is based on the question of law.'</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The athlete stood trial for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot four times through a locked toilet door in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pistorius admitted to shooting Steenkamp, 29, at his upmarket Pretoria home, but told the court that he had mistaken her for an intruder.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The state sought to prove that Pistorius deliberately shot Steenkamp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Now, prosecutors want to overturn the culpable homicide verdict and instead retry the entire case. If successful, Pistorius could face another marathon murder trial.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But Pretoria High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa found there was not enough evidence to convict the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete of premeditated murder.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He was found guilty of culpable homicide, a charge equivalent to manslaughter, after a seven-month trial.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The date for the appeal hearing has not been set.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NPA spokesman Nathi Mncube said: 'The merits of the NPA's argument in this regard are contained in the papers that were filed with the registrar of the North Gauteng High Court today.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 'This means that the matter is now officially sub judice and consequently the NPA will not be able to discuss the matter publicly until judgment is delivered by the court.'</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Prosecutors believe that judge Masipa had erred in law by returning a culpable homicide verdict and instead should have found the sprinter guilty of premeditated murder. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A premeditated murder conviction would have returned a mandatory life sentence with a minimum jail term of 25 years. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Currently, Pistorius can expected to be released in a little over eight months.  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pistorius is currently serving his sentence at a hospital section of a Pretoria prison.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The appeal sets the stage for another instalment of a legal battle that has gripped millions around the world.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pistorius was last month jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, although it is expected that he will only serve a maximum of ten months in custody.  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Judge Masipa's decision to rule out murder was criticised by legal professionals and the Women's League of the African National Congress (ANC) as an erroneous interpretation of the law. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Source: <i><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2820073/Prosecutors-appeal-against-Oscar-Pistorius-s-manslaughter-conviction-paving-way-new-Reeva-Steenkamp-murder-trial.html">Daily Mail</a></i></b></div> <br /> <br />

South African Prosecutors Appeal Oscar Pistorius Verdict

Report By Darren Boyle South African prosecutors on Tuesday filed an appeal against the sentence and conviction of star Paralympia...

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