The Constitutional Court has dismissed an application by paralympian athlete Oscar Pistorius for leave to appeal against his conviction for murder‚ the National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed.
“I can confirm that his application for leave to appeal has been denied because of a lack of prospects of it succeeding‚” said NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku.
It was also confirmed in a brief statement issued by the Office of the Chief Justice which stated: “The Constitutional Court has considered this application for leave to appeal‚ by Mr Oscar L Pistorius. It has concluded that the application should be dismissed for lack of prospects of success.”
This was Pistorius’ last chance of overturning his conviction for the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. T is understood that he must now report back to the High Court in Pretoria to be sentenced.
Out on bail of R10‚000‚ his next court date is April 18.
He faces 15 years in jail as that is the prescribed minimum sentence for murder for a first offender. But the court may impose a lesser sentence if it believes the circumstances justify it.
The court was ordered by the Supreme Court of Appeal to take time already served into account.
Pistorius was in prison for a year before being released on correctional supervision in October last year.
Steenkamp was shot through the door of the bathroom at Pistorius’ Pretoria home. He claimed he had mistaken her for a burglar.
ConCourt dismisses Pistorius’ application for leave to appeal against his conviction
“I can confirm that his application for leave to appeal has been denied because of a lack of prospects of it succeeding‚” said NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku.
It was also confirmed in a brief statement issued by the Office of the Chief Justice which stated: “The Constitutional Court has considered this application for leave to appeal‚ by Mr Oscar L Pistorius. It has concluded that the application should be dismissed for lack of prospects of success.”
This was Pistorius’ last chance of overturning his conviction for the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. T is understood that he must now report back to the High Court in Pretoria to be sentenced.
Out on bail of R10‚000‚ his next court date is April 18.
He faces 15 years in jail as that is the prescribed minimum sentence for murder for a first offender. But the court may impose a lesser sentence if it believes the circumstances justify it.
The court was ordered by the Supreme Court of Appeal to take time already served into account.
Pistorius was in prison for a year before being released on correctional supervision in October last year.
Steenkamp was shot through the door of the bathroom at Pistorius’ Pretoria home. He claimed he had mistaken her for a burglar.
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