Oscar Pistorius seeks to appeal against murder conviction

A south African Court is to soon hear an appeal by athlete Oscar Pistorius against his conviction for murdering his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The murder charge of three years, which has since led to a protracted legal tussle, is to be appealed, lawyers for the athlete have said.

The decision to appeal comes after a manslaughter verdict was overturned last month and a murder verdict introduced in its place.

The athlete’s defense has lodged papers at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, pushing for a review.

Lawyer, Andrew Fawcett insists the Pistorius has a case.

Once celebrated, the South African made history in 2012 by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London.

Pistorius was charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, South African model Reeva Steenkamp, who was found shot to death in February 2013.

The double-amputee Olympic sprinter, nicknamed the “Blade Runner” for his metal running blades, admitted that he did fire the shots that killed Steenkamp through a bathroom door but said he thought he was firing at a home invader.

But prosecutors argued that Pistorius shot Steenkamp during an argument.

In October 2014, Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide – South Africa’s equivalent to manslaughter – and also given a suspended three-year sentence for an unrelated firearms charge.

But South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal on Dec. 3 overturned the ruling, finding Pistorius guilty of killing Steenkamp.

Pistorius is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison.