Court Dismiss Pistorius’ Challenge Against State Appeal

Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers have been told prosecutors have the right to appeal against the South African Paralympian’s acquittal on murder charges.

Pistorius was cleared of murder but sentenced to a five-year jail term after being charged of culpable homicide.

Prosecutors are seeking a murder conviction for the blade runner who shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

If Oscar Pistorius is Found Guilty of Murder, He could Serve  at Least 15 Years in Jail. Image: AP.
If Oscar Pistorius is Found Guilty of Murder, He could Serve at Least 15 Years in Jail. Image: AP.

The Johannesburg High Court, on Friday, turned down the application by the defence team to block the prosecutors’ appeal.

Following a short hearing, Judge Thokozile Masipa overruled the defence’s objection, citing that the procedure did not alow her to grant or refuse application.

“In my view, to entertain this application will be tantamount to reviewing my own decision,” she said.

“For one thing there is really nothing new in the submissions by counsel for the applicant.”

Pistorius was acquitted of both premeditated murder and the lesser common-law murder charge in September last year.

Pistorius says he shot Miss Steenkamp accidentally, after mistaking her for an intruder.