Oscar Pistorius Latest News Update: Heading Back To Court As Judge Allows Appeal
Oscar Pistorius is heading back to court as Judge Thokozile Masipa has ruled that the athlete's acquittal on the more serious murder charge can be appealed.
However, the judge turned down the prosecution's request for appeal on the lesser charge of culpable homicide, for which Pistorius was found guilty and sentenced to a five-year prison term.
The earlier ruling acquitting Pistorius of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was made by Judge Masipa last October. As a result of that sentence, Pistorius has been serving time in jail.
The relatively light sentence meted on Pistorius drew criticism from some quarters. More angry voices were raised when it was learned that Pistorius could leave jail next year after serving just 10 months in prison, with the remainder of his sentence to be spent under house arrest.
With the appeal being allowed by Judge Masipa, the case will now be heard by the South African Supreme Court. In the appeal, a bench consisting of three or five judges could hear the case. If they see fit, they could overturn the initial ruling handed out by Judge Masipa.
If the appeal is successful, Pistorius could face up to 15 years in jail. As for Pistorius' family, they have stated that "it should not have gone this far and it is not fair "as he is a double amputee.
Judge Masipa's ruling to allow the appeal is described as a "big victory" by the BBC. It also says that the Supreme Court could find Pistorius guilty of murder and could also overturn the five-year sentence handed out by Judge Thokozile Masipa.
As for Pistorius, he could be out of jail and under house arrest by the time the appeal begins as some sources say this could only happen in the latter half of 2015.
