Prosecutors keen to prove Pistorius killed Reeva deliberately

South African state prosecutors said yesterday they would appeal the verdict and five- year jail term handed down to Oscar Pistorius over the killing of his girlfriend last year

Pretoria: South African state prosecutors said yesterday they would appeal the verdict and five- year jail term handed down to Oscar Pistorius over the killing of his girlfriend last year.


Oscar Pistorius 

The " NPA ( National Prosecuting Authority) will be appealing both the conviction and sentence," spokesman Nathi Mncube said.

Pistorius began a five- year prison stretch on October 21 after being found guilty of culpable homicide, a charge equivalent to manslaughter. But trial judge Thokozile Masipa found there was not enough evidence to convict the 27- year- old Paralympic and Olympic athlete of premeditated murder.

Her verdict angered the state prosecution, which had sought to prove that Pistorius deliberately shot dead 29- yearold Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

South African criminal lawyers had expressed shock that Masipa found that Pistorius could not have foreseen that someone would die.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!