Oscar Pistorius Appeal to Be Heard in December
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Jemal Countess/Getty Images(PRETORIA, South Africa) — The application to appeal Oscar Pistorius’ conviction and sentence will be heard on Dec. 9, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed on Monday.
The appeal comes two months after the Olympian was found guilty of culpable homicide — the equivalent of manslaughter — in the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot through a locked bathroom door on Valentine’s Day 2013.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel wants to appeal both the conviction on culpable homicide and the five-year sentence. He also wants to challenge the acquittal on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
The defense will oppose the application.
The application for leave to appeal will be heard by Judge Thokozile Masipa, who found Pistorius could not be convicted on a murder charge.
Masipa has to give permission for the appeal to be heard. The prosecution would have to convince her that another court might have come to a different conclusion. This could happen in an open court, but the judge has the discretion to hear the matter in chambers.
If Masipa does not grant permission for the appeal to go ahead, the NPA can still petition the Supreme Court of Appeals to hear the matter.
The decision to appeal could see Pistorius face a murder conviction again for shooting Steenkamp, and a minimum of 15 years in prison if he is found guilty on appeal.
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