Oscar Pistorius case: Judge Masipa allows appeal

[jchima]

A South African judge has ruled that prosecutors can appeal against the acquittal on murder charges of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius.



The double amputee was jailed for five years in October for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Source: Oscar Pistorius case Judge Masipa allows appeal - eReporter

 

[waltky]

Blade runner not gettin' outta jail quite yet...

Pistorius release canceled, referred back to parole board
Oct 5,`15 -- The decision granting Oscar Pistorius early release from prison to go to house arrest was cancelled Monday and referred back to a parole board to be reconsidered.

In the latest delay in the drawn-out saga over whether Pistorius should be allowed to leave jail early, a parole review board ruled that the double-amputee Olympian's case should be considered all over again, South Africa's Department of Corrections said. The independent review board also said Pistorius should be "subjected to psychotherapy" as part of his parole conditions, even if it's decided that he can be released early, the corrections department said in a statement. Pistorius' lawyer Brian Webber said he had been informed of the decision to refer the case back to the parole board but had no more details. The corrections department didn't say when Pistorius' case would be looked at again.

It likely means that Pistorius will at least remain in prison until after Nov. 3, when prosecutors still seeking a murder conviction against the runner appeal to South Africa's Supreme Court. Pistorius was acquitted of murder last year and instead found guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. He has served nearly a year of his five-year prison sentence. He was eligible to be moved to house arrest after serving 10 months and initially cleared to leave Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria on Aug. 21.

However, South Africa's justice minister intervened, suspended the decision on a legal technicality and ordered a review. At next month's Supreme Court appeal, Pistorius faces the possibility of a 15-year jail sentence if a panel of five judges agrees with prosecutors that he should have been found guilty of murder for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home.

News from The Associated Press

 

[Mr. H.]

All right, a sequel!

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/20/8631091/blade-runner-sequel-roger-deakins-cinematographer

 

[waltky]

Pistorius has 'major depression'...

Oscar Pistorius has 'major depression' - psychologist
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 - South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is suffering from major depression, a psychologist says at his sentencing hearing for the murder of his girlfriend.

Oscar Pistorius is a "broken" man and should not be sent to jail, a psychologist has said at the South African athlete's sentencing hearing. Defence witness Dr Jonathan Scholtz said Pistorius was suffering from "major depression". Pistorius was convicted at the end of last year of the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He faces a jail term of 15 years but it may be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors. The hearing is expected to last all week with a sentence by Friday.

Pistorius, a fallen idol

Dr Scholtz explained to the court why he felt a jail term would not be "constructive". "Since the offence he has developed a serious psychiatric condition which has become worse over the past two years," he told the court. Instead of a custodial sentence, Pistorius should do community service so that he could help others and had a job offer as a project manager in an early childhood development programme run by his uncle's company, Dr Scholz said. Pistorius was also now traumatised by the sound gunfire, even in a film, and never wanted to go near a firearm again. As a consequence he had sold all his weapons, the doctor said.

But state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Dr Scholz' assertion that Pistorius was not fit to testify in front of the court, saying he had given an hour-long interview to a British broadcaster, ITV. Pistorius had also had temper tantrums in jail and had once banged a table when he got upset with a nurse, Mr Nel said, asking Dr Scholtz why he had ignored Pistorius' actions.

Inside Pistorius' mind - Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg:

 

[waltky]

Prosecutor goin' for more time...

Oscar Pistorius: Appeal over 'lenient' sentence
Thu, 21 Jul 2016 - South African prosecutors say they will push for a longer prison sentence for athlete Oscar Pistorius after his murder conviction, saying six years is too lenient.

South African prosecutors say they will take court action in order to secure a longer prison sentence for Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius. He was jailed for six years earlier this month for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Prosecutors argue that Pistorius' sentence is inappropriate for the crime of murder and "shockingly too lenient".

They also argue that the sentence is unjust and could bring the justice system into disrepute. Pistorius was initially given a five-year term for manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder on appeal last December. He admitted shooting her, but said he had mistaken Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and acted out of fear.

Rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius

* August 2012: Competes in London Olympics and Paralympics, where he won a gold medal
* February 2013: Shoots dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
* March 2014: Trial begins
* September 2014: Judge finds Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide
* October 2014: Begins five-year sentence
* October 2015: Transferred to house arrest
* December 2015: Appeal court changes verdict to murder
* July 2016: Sentenced to six years in jail for murder

Oscar Pistorius: Appeal over 'lenient' sentence - BBC News