Addressing South Africa's supreme court, state prosecutors have argued for overturning Oscar Pistorius' conviction. The former athlete was released last month after serving under a year in prison for culpable homicide.
Image: Reuters/S. Sibeko
Advertisement
At the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, South African state prosecutors on Tuesday argued in favor of overturning Paralympics sprinter Oscar Pistorius' conviction of culpable homicide to murder.
Last year, a disgraced Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide, equivalent to manslaughter in South Africa's judicial system.
After spending nearly a year in prison on a five-year sentence, Pistorius was released and placed under house arrest on October 19 under a South African law that dictates non-dangerous prisoners should only serve one-sixth of their sentence.
The 28-year-old athlete said he believed there was an intruder in his house when he fired four bullets in the bathroom, killing his then-partner Reeva Steenkamp.
The rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius has now been sentenced to five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. DW looks at the defining moments in Oscar Pistorius' successful, and at times controversial, sporting career.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/dpaweb
The trial
In 2014, former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years imprisonment for 'culpable homicide' for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The following December, that verdict was upgraded to murder - a decision Pistorius is bidding to overturn. The tragedy and ensuing court cases have blotted a unique, and at times controversial, athletic career.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
First strides in Athens
At the tender age of 17, Oscar Pistorius exploded on to the track scene. He broke the world record in men's 200 meters at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, adding to an earlier bronze medal at the same meet. It was the first major milestone in his career. Pistorius was born with the disease fibular hemimelia, and at the age of 11 months was amputated halfway between his knees and ankles.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/dpaweb
An unfair advantage?
His success, however, was followed by debate on whether Pistorius had an extra advantage with his prosthetic J-shape limbs. Researchers found out that the prosthetics required "25 percent less energy" to move than normal legs. After initially being stopped from competing at the 2008 Olympics, Pistorius successfully had his appeal upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Image: Reuters
Success in Beijing
At the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing in China, Pistorius walked away with three gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400 meters finals on the track. He had been hoping to reach the Olympics - a constant target in his mind throughout his career - but he fell short of qualifying.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A step towards the main goal
Pistorius got a step closer to his career-long dream at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea when he was finally able to race able-bodied athletes. He was included in the South African 4x400m relay team, running the opening leg in the semifinal. However, he was dropped for the final - where the South Africans won silver - because of his slow pace in the semis.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Pistorius lives olympic dream
Pistorius was named in South Africa's team to participate in the 2012 London Olympic Games. He was the first double-leg amputee runner to compete in an able-bodied sport at the Olympics, but was not able to get to the final. His South African team also didn't get a medal in the relay, but Pistorius was given the honor of carrying the country's flag at the closing ceremony.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Paralympic dominance in London
Just weeks later Pistorius graced the Olympic Stadium in London again, at the Paralympics, leading the South African team in at the opening ceremony. He established another world record in the 200 meter heats, but then lost in the final. He still left with two more gold medals at the end of the event though after winning in the 400meters sprint and the 4x100m relay.
Image: picture-alliance/AP
7 images1 | 7
The state prosecutors said Pistorius' sentence was "shockingly light, inappropriate," and added that "not enough emphasis was placed on the horrendous manner" in which Pistorious' former girlfriend died, according to Reuters news agency.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began the case stating Pistorius intended on killing whoever was behind the door.
Five supreme court justices will hear arguments by the state and defense, after which they will decide on a date to announce their decision. Legal experts are unsure of the outcome due to several unexpected turns in the case.
"The possibilities are to dismiss the appeal, uphold the appeal or refer it back to the trial court - which I think is very unlikely - for resentencing or retrial," Martin Hood, a South African criminal lawyer, told AFP news agency.
Prior to the killing of Steenkamp in 2013, Pistorius was hailed as a role-model for disabled athletes after winning several gold medals at the Olympic level.
