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Oscar Pistorius has "shockingly lenient" murder sentenced increased

Oscar Pistorius has seen his jail sentence for murder more than doubled. The South African athlet...
Newstalk
Newstalk

08.31 24 Nov 2017


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Oscar Pistorius has "s...

Oscar Pistorius has "shockingly lenient" murder sentenced increased

Newstalk
Newstalk

08.31 24 Nov 2017


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Oscar Pistorius has seen his jail sentence for murder more than doubled.

The South African athlete was serving a six year term for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

However, the country's Supreme Court of Appeal has now increased that sentence after the state argued that his original sentence of six years was "shockingly lenient."

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The court this morning handed down the minimum 15-year sentence prescribed for murder in South Africa - subtracting the year Pistorius has already served.

Reading out the court’s decision, the judge said Pistorius’ previous sentence would be “set aside and substituted” with the new sentence – Meaning he is now facing a further 13 years and five months in jail.

However, he does still have the right to appeal.

The athlete was not in court for the ruling.

Tania Koen, a spokeswoman for the Steenkamp family, said: "This is an emotional thing for them.

"They just feel that their trust in the justice system has been confirmed this morning."

Pistorius was jailed in July 2016 after being found guilty on appeal of murdering Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.

The runner claimed he mistook 29-year-old for an intruder when he fired four bullets from one of his guns through the bathroom door.

This afternoon South African Legal commentator Llewelyn Curlewis said this will "probably be the final verdict" in the case and said there is unlikely to be a further appeal.

"From a lawyer's perspective...this is the correct interpretation of the law," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned, this was the correct outcome at long last."

Oscar Pistorius has "shockingly lenient" murder sentenced increased

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