South Africa's highest court dismisses Pistorius appeal

[webfact]

South Africa's highest court dismisses Pistorius appeal
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's highest court has dismissed Oscar Pistorius' appeal of his murder conviction, a lawyer said Thursday, signaling that the former track star's long legal battle since he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp may be drawing to a close.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court clears the way for a judge to sentence the double-amputee runner for murder at a hearing scheduled for April 18.

"We'll proceed to the sentencing," defense lawyer Andrew Fawcett said.

Pistorius, who killed Steenkamp in 2013, had appealed to the Constitutional Court, saying another court erred when it overturned a manslaughter conviction and declared the Olympic athlete guilty of murder.


Pistorius spent one year of a five-year sentence in jail for the lesser offense. He is currently under house arrest, staying at his uncle's mansion in Pretoria.

The minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years, though a judge can reduce that sentence for what the law describes as exceptional circumstances.

Pistorius shot Steenkamp through the door of a toilet cubicle in his home early on Valentine's Day 2013. Prosecutors said he killed her after an argument; Pistorius said he killed her by mistake, thinking there was an intruder in the house.

Pistorius, a multiple Paralympic champion, became the first amputee to run at the Olympics and the able-bodied world championships. He was known as "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fiber running blades.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-04

[webfact]

Oscar Pistorius loses appeal against murder conviction



JOHANNESBURG: -- Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has had his right to appeal against his murder conviction rejected by South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

In December, the country’s Supreme Court upgraded the athlete’s sentence to murder from culpable homicide, an equivalent charge to manslaughter.

Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in twenty-thirteen. He has spent the last few months under house arrest at his uncle’s home in Pretoria while waiting for his appeal.

South African authorities had challenged his appeal on the grounds that the Supreme Court had correctly found Pistorius guilty.

The athlete, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ because of the prosthetic legs he uses to race, now faces a possible minimum prison sentence of fifteen years for murder.

It’s likely that he will be sentenced in April.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-04

[prestburypark]

Good, after a legal cock up and miscarriage of Justice this cockroach might just have to pay the penalty for his actions.

[ezzra]

Miscarriage of justice, this repugnant man should have been in jail from the beginning..

just because he's some kind of an sport icon in SA shouldn't sway the judge rulings

to treat him any different than the common criminal that he is... hope to jail on you

blades fella and stay there, this is where you belong....

[condo bought]

Deserves everything he gets.

[little mary sunshine]

At last justice being served in So Africa.

Off to jail with this murder for min of 15 yrs.

[i claudius]

Good ,this guy should rot in prison .

[cocorico2558]

Good, he is a murderer and should be in prison for 15+ years. Incredible he has the guts to appeal!

[grumpyoldman]

Glad everyone is on the same page, cold blooded killer. Killed a lovely lady, complete a**hole.

15 years seems light, in SA do they have lessened sentences for good behavior and such? Meaning, will the guy only serve a little more than half that 15?

If he only does 5-8, that would be wrong.

[NeilSA1]

Well done. I think most South Africans were dismayed at the previous verdict. Justice must be served.

[nottocus]

He might just have to go out and get legless one more time before he heads off to the joint.