South Africa’s Supreme Court has set aside November 3 as the date it will hear the state’s appeal against the six-year sentence handed to paralympian Oscar Pistorius for the murder of his girlfriend.
The state is of the opinion that the sentence issued to the former gold medallist was too lenient a sentence for someone found guilty of murder.
“The state, in the papers, we stipulate clearly that the sentence imposed is shockingly low,” National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said.
“The presiding officer has the discretion to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence when compelling and substantial circumstances exist. But… with this matter, the presiding officer exercised that discretion in a very lenient manner.”
Pistorius was found guilty of the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Women rights groups in the country criticized the ruling, saying the former athlete has received preferential treatment due to his international celebrity status.
Pistorius was initially convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail. That conviction was later increased to murder by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
