The State has filed its appeal against paralympian Oscar Pistorius's conviction and sentence, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday.
"Today, we announce that the NPA filed the application for leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence.
The appeal on conviction is based on the question of law," spokesman Nathi Mncube said in a statement.
"The merits of the NPA's argument in this regard are contained in the papers that were filed with the registrar of the North Gauteng High Court today.
"This means that the matter is now officially sub judice and consequently the NPA will not be able to discuss the matter publicly until judgment is delivered by the court."
Pistorius was jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend, law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her dead through the locked toilet door in his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
For discharging a firearm at Tasha's restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg, in January 2013, he was sentenced to three years in jail, suspended for five years. The sentences would run concurrently, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled in the High Court in Pretoria on October 21.
Mncube said prosecutors Gerrie Nel and Andrea Johnson had been studying the judgment, doing research, and consulting legal experts to establish if there were sufficient grounds to lodge appeals.
Following Pistorius's sentencing, Mncube said there was an "appetite" to appeal. The same day, NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana told Parliament he would discuss the sentence, and a possible appeal, with prosecutors.
State appeals Oscar conviction, sentence
"Today, we announce that the NPA filed the application for leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence.
The appeal on conviction is based on the question of law," spokesman Nathi Mncube said in a statement.
"The merits of the NPA's argument in this regard are contained in the papers that were filed with the registrar of the North Gauteng High Court today.
"This means that the matter is now officially sub judice and consequently the NPA will not be able to discuss the matter publicly until judgment is delivered by the court."
Pistorius was jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend, law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her dead through the locked toilet door in his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
For discharging a firearm at Tasha's restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg, in January 2013, he was sentenced to three years in jail, suspended for five years. The sentences would run concurrently, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled in the High Court in Pretoria on October 21.
Mncube said prosecutors Gerrie Nel and Andrea Johnson had been studying the judgment, doing research, and consulting legal experts to establish if there were sufficient grounds to lodge appeals.
Following Pistorius's sentencing, Mncube said there was an "appetite" to appeal. The same day, NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana told Parliament he would discuss the sentence, and a possible appeal, with prosecutors.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos