South Africa
In a surprising turn of events, the South Africa’s National Prosecuting authority says it will appeal Oscar Pistorious ‘too lenient’sentence for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
On July 6, Judge Thokozile Masipa of the Pretoria High Court sentenced Pistorious to six years.
Judge Masipa said she believed there were “substantial and compelling” reasons why the athlete should not be handed the 15-year minimum sentence for murder, including his obvious remorse and the fact he believed Steenkamp was an intruder.
Steenkamp’s since the sentencing have not said anything about appealing the the sentence but in response to the NPA’s decisIon, they said tHey had hat the couple had no input on the decision by the state to appeal and were focusing their energy on the upcoming media launch of The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.
In a statement the NPA says the ruling is an injustice and has the potential to bring the administration of justice into disrepute”.
Papers on are expected to be filed to the courts on Thursday.
Agencies
Go to video
Spain: 2 smugglers convicted for the death of 4 Moroccan migrants
01:03
Charges against Trump and Jan. 6 rioters at stake
01:10
Joseph Kony: ICC sets October 15 for confirmation of charges hearing
Go to video
The suspects in a Kenyan doomsday cult are ordered to be hospitalized after a hunger strike
Go to video
Italy: 4 Egyptians tried for the death of researcher Giulio Regeni
01:23
South Africa: Pretoria residents react to news of Oscar Pistorius release from jail