PRETORIA – State prosecutors on Tuesday gave notice of appeal in a manslaughter verdict that was given to South African athlete, Oscar Pistorius seven weeks ago.
The prosecution was expected to ask Judge Thokozile Masipa to authorise the appeal, which Pistorius’ defence opposed.
Report says that the 28-year-old double-amputee Olympic sprinter shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp dead through a bathroom door in his Pretoria home on Feb. 14, 2013.
However, Masipa accepted his version that he mistook the victim for an intruder, finding him guilty of manslaughter instead of murder and sentencing him to five years in prison on October 21.
Pistorius would be eligible for parole within 10 months under that sentence.
The prosecution said it found the sentence “shockingly light.’’
Meanwhile the prosecution was seeking a murder verdict, meaning Pistorius could face a life sentence and a minimum of 25 years in prison.
According to the South African justice system, it requires that the judge who issued the verdict must give the green light for an appeal to proceed.
“If the appeal is granted, Pistorius could be released on bail after spending 49 days in prison,’’ the prosecution said. (dpa/NAN)
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