Oscar Pistorius Case: Judge Masipa Delay Appeal Ruling Until Wednesday
Judge Thokozile Masipa has delayed her ruling until Wednesday on whether the prosecutors can appeal against what they call the "shockingly light" sentence passed on Oscar Pistorius. The Olympian was charged with murder for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.
During the trial, Pistorius said that he thought there was an intruder behind the bathroom door who was about to attack him. He fired four shots at the door, and he said that he did not know that it was his girlfriend who was on the other side of it.
Judge Masipa sentenced him in October to five years in prison after convicting him with culpable homicide. In South African law, this charge applies if the accused knew that they might kill someone, yet choose to go ahead with their course of action.
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Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that Pistorius' sentence was far too lenient.
"I say with utmost respect, too much mercy is shown," said Nel. "Perhaps the element of mercy was over exaggerated." He also mentioned that a fair sentence in his opinion would have been at least 10 years behind bars for the former Olympian.
"We are appealing the acquittal on the conviction of murder," Nel added, and he said that the court has not taken all circumstantial evidence into account when it sentenced Pistorius.
Meanwhile, Pistorius' legal team argues that the prosecution's case was baseless and that the judge had ruled correctly.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux said, "It's incorrect to say it's a light sentence. It's not."
Addressing Judge Masipa, he said, "The problem is they don't like your factual finding, They don't appreciate that. You absolutely, correctly applied the law."
Prosecutors believe that they have a strong case, however, if their appeal does not go through, Pistorius could be eligible for parole after serving 10 months in jail.
