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Oscar Pistorius. Source: Carte Blanche

Home » Oscar Pistorius Prosecutors Appeal for Harsher Sentence – He’s Shown No “Gut-Wrenching” Remorse

Oscar Pistorius Prosecutors Appeal for Harsher Sentence – He’s Shown No “Gut-Wrenching” Remorse

Former Olympic and Paralympic athlete – and convicted murderer – Oscar Pistorius, is making headlines around the world again as the South African State Prosecution appeal his six-year sentence… which they say is “shockingly light” and “too lenient”. The State says that the sentence given to Pistorius – known as Blade Runner for his two […]

By SAPeople
05-11-17 15:51
in News
carte blanche
Oscar Pistorius. Source: Carte Blanche

Former Olympic and Paralympic athlete – and convicted murderer – Oscar Pistorius, is making headlines around the world again as the South African State Prosecution appeal his six-year sentence… which they say is “shockingly light” and “too lenient”.

carte blanche
Oscar Pistorius. Source: Carte Blanche – “Convicted of murder & sentenced to 6 years in prison – the State now seeks to extend #OscarPistorius’ sentence.”

The State says that the sentence given to Pistorius – known as Blade Runner for his two prosthetic running legs – was an injustice, and that his disability had been over-emphasised.

Chief Prosecutor Andrea Johnson said today in the Supreme Court of Appeal, in Bloemfontein, that “murder is murder” and that there has been “no true, gut-wrenching remorse” from the athlete.

She asked the five judges to increase his current sentence to 15 years, which is the prescribed minimum for murder. Pistorius killed his then girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, was in attendance today in Bloemfontein. Source: Carte Blanche

Thirty-year-old Pistorius is in the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre prison in Pretoria, and is not in the court in Bloemfontein. However Reeva’s mother, June, was in attendance today. The Steenkamp family support the State’s appeal. Family lawyer Tania Koen said the sentence “should send the proper message to society” and that “ultimately there must be justice for Reeva”.

Current affairs programme Carte Blanche was in the courtroom on Friday and will broadcast the full story on Sunday evening. The show asks: can the State succeed in its attempt to extend Pistorius’ time behind bars? If you’re overseas – you can subscribe to Showmax to watch Carte Blanche (and other popular shows from home).