court doubles pistorius sentence
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

To more than 13 years

Court doubles Pistorius sentence

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Court doubles Pistorius sentence

The gold medal-winning athlete, a double amputee known as the "Blade Runner"
Johannesburg - Emirats Voice

South Africa's Supreme Court more than doubled Oscar Pistorius' murder sentence on Friday, accepting prosecutors' argument that the original jail term of six years for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was "shockingly lenient".

The gold medal-winning athlete, a double amputee known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, was not in court to hear the new sentence of 13 years and five months handed down.

Steenkamp's family were also absent but welcomed the revised term -- the minimum 15 years prescribed for murder, minus the time Pistorius has already served -- and said it showed justice could prevail in South Africa.

"This is an emotional thing for them. They just feel that their trust in the justice system has been confirmed this morning," Tania Koen, a family spokeswoman, told Reuters.
Rights groups in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women say Pistorius, 31, received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or celebrity status.

Barry Steenkamp, the father of the slain model, told SABC television the family could now get on with their lives.

"I always, from the beginning, said justice had not been served, now it has," he said.

In the same interview, her mother June Steenkamp said: We felt that we didn't have justice for Reeva by that too-lenient sentence but now we have justice for her."

Pistorius' elder brother Carl wrote on Twitter: "Shattered. Heartbroken. Gutted." The athlete's lawyers could not be reached for comment.

The athlete was jailed in July last year after being found guilty on appeal of murdering model and law graduate Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013 by firing four shots through a locked bathroom door. The case attracted worldwide interest.

He had originally been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail. That conviction was increased to murder by the Supreme Court in December 2015 and his sentence extended to six years by trial judge Thokozile Masipa in July last year.

Masipa said in court that while the Steenkamps had suffered a great loss, "fallen hero" Pistorius' life and career were also in ruins, and that a long prison term "would not serve justice". Pistorius' appearance during the trial without his prostheses had drawn gasps from the courtroom.

In a scathing criticism, the appeals court said Masipa's ruling had "erred in deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence" of 15 years' imprisonment for murder.

"The sentence of six years' imprisonment is shockingly lenient, to a point where it has the effect of trivializing this serious offence," said Judge Willie Seriti, who read out the unanimous court decision.

"I am of the view that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances which can justify the departure from the prescribed minimum sentence."

Seriti also censured Pistorius, saying his apology to the deceased's family during the hearing did "not demonstrate any genuine remorse on his part" and that he "does not appreciate the gravity of his actions".

'BIRTHDAY OF LOVE AND TEARS'

State prosecutors led by advocate Andrea Johnson had told the appeals hearing this month that there were no mitigating circumstances to justify Pistorius' six-year sentence.

Defense lawyer Barry Roux argued that Pistorius did not deliberately kill Steenkamp and the appeal should be thrown out.

Roux had said during the July 2016 trial that Pistorius' disability and mental distress following the killing should be considered as reasons to reduce his sentence.

Pistorius reached the semi-finals of the 400 meters at the London Olympics in 2012 and took two golds in the Paralympics.

Even in prison, he has been in the news.

In August, he was allowed out to attend his maternal grandmother's funeral and spent a night in hospital for what local media reports said was a suspected heart attack.

In August 2016, the athlete denied trying to kill himself after he was treated in hospital for wrist injuries.

On Pistorius' birthday on Wednesday, his father Henke told local YOU magazine that although he was behind bars, it was still a special day for his family, "full of love and tears".

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT?

Legal analysts said Pistorius could still appeal to the Constitutional Court, South Africa's topmost legal authority but saw his chances of success as slim.

"I don't think it's over. He has one more option," said lawyer Ulrich Roux, who is not linked to the Pistorius defense.

"All the same there are few grounds of success in this venture, to be honest."

Lawyer Zola Majavu said the Constitutional Court was unlikely to agree to hear the case.

"In my view, that will be a very tall order. It is pretty much the end of the road for Pistorius."

Source:AFP

GMT 09:54 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

'Friendly and kind' N. Korean skaters

GMT 06:19 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Russians challenge doping ban

GMT 07:01 2018 Monday ,22 January

Real Madrid defy crisis talk

GMT 09:42 2018 Sunday ,21 January

One dead as accident mars fourth leg

GMT 04:52 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Confident Nadal demolishes Dzumhur

GMT 07:51 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Fighting Tsonga digs deep to reel

GMT 09:21 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

Federer and Djokovic take control

GMT 07:13 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

US racing pioneer Gurney dies
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

court doubles pistorius sentence court doubles pistorius sentence

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

court doubles pistorius sentence court doubles pistorius sentence

 



GMT 05:14 2024 Wednesday ,07 February

Sophisticated Classic Dining Room Design Ideas

GMT 16:17 2018 Thursday ,30 August

Five Saudi women pilots granted GACA licences

GMT 05:06 2024 Tuesday ,06 February

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 07:37 2018 Sunday ,14 January

Spanish tax authorities scrutinise Messi foundation

GMT 02:17 2017 Thursday ,29 June

Abu Dhabi tenants may continue

GMT 12:29 2012 Monday ,27 February

Melting glaciers cause trouble for water suppliers

GMT 11:16 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Oil slick off China coast trebles in size

GMT 21:46 2018 Monday ,08 January

Bahrain, Tunisia discuss youth, sport cooperation

GMT 19:39 2017 Friday ,12 May

Algerian member of Change

GMT 10:08 2017 Monday ,16 October

Smashbox launches Holiday 2017 Collection

GMT 05:44 2016 Monday ,04 July

Libya's oil authorities agree to unify ranks

GMT 14:33 2017 Saturday ,02 September

Eid Al Adha: A day of blessing and togetherness

GMT 15:39 2016 Tuesday ,27 September

Cambodia's garment, shoe export up 8.3% in 7 months

GMT 12:48 2016 Sunday ,21 August

Qatar Stock Index Drops 22.89 Points

GMT 16:10 2017 Sunday ,26 February

British FM Johnson talks trade with Egypt’s Sissi

GMT 11:06 2016 Saturday ,03 September

Hamilton maintains Monza momentum over Rosberg

GMT 22:35 2017 Thursday ,15 June

Bahrain condemns attack on UAE ship

GMT 18:41 2017 Wednesday ,12 July

1,600 traffic fines issued in RAK within one week

GMT 13:05 2011 Monday ,05 December

Astronomy\'s most popular mystery

GMT 22:43 2014 Tuesday ,24 June

How brains store recent memories, cell by cell?

GMT 08:40 2012 Monday ,09 January

Discrepancy in reported Arab ad spend for 2011
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice