OSCAR PISTORIUS LOSES APPEAL OVER JAIL TERM
The former South African Paralympian's bid to have his jail term, for killing Reeva Steenkamp, has been rejected. The appeal against his 13-year jail term was rejected, ending the long legal batter over his conviction for killing his girlfriend in 2013.
The former paralympic athlete, 31, asked the constitutional court to review the jail term, which was increased to 13 years in November 2017 but the court ruling released on Monday said that "the application for leave to appeal is dismissed" as it was not a constitutional matter. The ruling was dated 28 March.
Pistorius shot dead Steenkamp in the early hours of Valintine's Day in 2013 when he fired four times through the locked door of his bedroom toilet, later saying that he thought it was an intruder.
He was originally convicted of culpable homicide – which is the equivalent of manslaughter – in 2014, but his conviction was upgraded to murder on appeal. Pistorius also tried to take the murder conviction to the constitutional court, but it also refused to hear the matter.
His legal team and state prosecutors have fought through the courts over the length of his sentence.
"This is the end of the road. There are no other legal options available," national prosecuting authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told AFP, welcoming the ruling.
Tania Koen, who is the Steenkamp’s family lawyer, said that Reeva’s parents had "always had faith in the justice system" and had no further comment to make.
"June and Barry have been focusing their time and energy on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation which was established in her memory," Koen said.
The year before he killed her, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at the Olympics when he competed in the London 2012 games.
He was once a role model for disabled people worldwide, that his trail generated international headlines. In a television interview, he said he believed an intruder was in the house and "instant fear" drove him to grab his gun and walk on his stumps towards the bathroom before opening fire.
It is unclear when Pistorius could be eligible for parole.