Oscar Pistorius sentence appeal by State rejected

Judge Thokozile Masipa has dismissed the State’s application for leave to appeal the sentence handed down to former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius with costs.

The State earlier today argued that an appeal court may impose a harsher sentence on Oscar Pistorius, saying that Judge Masipa may have misdirected herself.

Addressing the matter, Judge Masipa said that she is not persuaded that another court will come to different decision.

The former athlete was initially convicted of culpable homicide for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013 and sentenced to five years in prison but the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled he should be convicted of murder and be re-sentenced.

Last month, Masipa sentenced Pistorius to six years in jail which the State believes is lenient.