More Jail Time For Oscar Pistorius?

The Former paralympian, convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is expected to know on Friday whether he must serve more time behind bars.
Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, June 14, 2016.
Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, June 14, 2016.
Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters

Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, convicted of the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is expected to know on Friday whether he must serve more time behind bars.

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein is ready to deliver its verdict in an appeal the State had lodged to have his initial six-year prison sentence increased.

The world-renowned athlete was arrested on Valentine's Day in 2013 – the day of the killing.

He claimed that he had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder.

Judge Thokozile Masipa later sentenced him in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

Judge Thokozile Masipa delivers her verdict in the trial of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria September 12, 2014.
Judge Thokozile Masipa delivers her verdict in the trial of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria September 12, 2014.
REUTERS / Alon Skuy / Pool

During arguments in the appeal, the court heard that Judge Masipa failed to put forward substantial and compelling reasons for deviating from the minimum sentence of 15 years.

Prosecutor Andrea Johnson told the court the judge erred in her judgment and in sentencing Pistorius to six years.

Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during the third day of his re-sentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa June 15, 2016.
Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during the third day of his re-sentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa June 15, 2016.
REUTERS/Alon Skuy/Pool

"The sentence should reflect the gravity of the crime," she said at the time.

"The court regarded Pistorius' belief that there was an intruder in the house as a mitigating factor," Johnson said of the previous judgment.

During the trial, Pistorius maintained that he had no intention of murdering his girlfriend.

When he testified, he became emotional and apologised to the Steenkamp family.

-- News24

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