Other High Profile Cases and Persons of Interest > Oscar Pistorius and the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

South African prosecutors to appeal against Oscar Pistorius' 6-year sentence.

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John:
Oscar Pistorius: Appeal over 'shockingly lenient' sentence



21 July 2016



South African prosecutors say they will appeal against Oscar Pistorius's six-year sentence for murder, calling it "shockingly too lenient".

The National Prosecuting Authority said the sentence was "disproportionate to the crime" and could bring the justice system "into disrepute".

The Olympic athlete was jailed earlier this month for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

He admits killing her but says he mistook her for an intruder.

The 29-year-old was initially given a five-year term for manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder on appeal last December.

A statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority said that an application for leave to appeal against Pistorius's sentence was submitted on Thursday.

"We hope that this appeal will also clarify further the principles of sentencing, particularly in crime categories for which there are prescribed minimum sentences ordained by legislation," it says.

Prosecutors point out that Pistorius' jail term was less than half the 15 years sought by them and that he has shown inadequate remorse for the murder.

In explaining her decision to give him six years, Judge Thokozile Masipa said mitigating circumstances, such as rehabilitation and remorse, had outweighed aggravating factors, such as his failure to fire a warning shot.

She said the sentence needed to be fair to both Pistorius and the family of the deceased.

A longer sentence would not serve justice, she said: "Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court."

But the sentence caused outrage among some, who argued he had been given preferential treatment because of his status and wealth.

Read entire article here.

mercury:
Good

John:
One wonders just how many times Judge Masipa has to get things wrong before she is removed from the bench?  She messed up the trial and now the sentence, is there anything this woman can do right?

mercury:

--- Quote from: John on July 26, 2016, 02:32:39 AM ---One wonders just how many times Judge Masipa has to get things wrong before she is removed from the bench?  She messed up the trial and now the sentence, is there anything this woman can do right?

--- End quote ---
In this horribly corrupt world am sure she wasnt acting alone, more than her arthritis fingers got bent , it disgusts me
If im wrong and it was all her own judgements then she added one single year on for the dfference between manslaughter and murder, still not right, and meanwhke we have african courts giving peple 90 yr sentences for killing animals and 20 years for robbery...white rich men leniant law syndrome is not a myth

John:
Pistorius will seek permission to appeal against his 6-year murder sentence tomorrow in South Africa

25 August 2016

By Sinikka Tarvainen
DPA

JOHANNESBURG — South African prosecutors will on August 26 seek permission to appeal against Oscar Pistorius' six-year prison sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority said Thursday.

A court hearing will be held in Pretoria in the presence of judge Thokozile Masipa, who sentenced the former Olympic and Paralympic athlete on July 6, spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told dpa.
Related Article

Prosecutors plan to argue that another judge could have come to a different conclusion than Masipa, whose sentence was widely criticized as being lenient.

If Masipa accepts the argument and grants prosecutors leave to appeal, they will seek a tougher sentence for Pistorius at the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The double-amputee athlete fired four shots at the model through a bathroom door in his Pretoria home on February 14, 2013.

Masipa initially accepted his argument that he mistook her for a burglar, and sentenced him to five years for manslaughter.

But the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned her verdict and found Pistorius guilty of murder, forcing her to issue a new sentence.

Masipa may immediately decide whether to grant prosecutors permission to appeal, or delay her decision by several days, Mfaku said.

http://www.africanews.com/2016/08/24/pistorius-defense-team-to-argue-enough-is-enough-in-friday-s-appeal-case/

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