Arrest warrant issued against Oscar Pistorius

The ENCA television news channel said the NPA would not enforce the arrest until next week when the disgraced Paralympian, who is now out of jail on house arrest, is expected to apply for bail.

The NPA said Pistorius’s present legal position was a matter of debate as the SCA ruling effectively overturned both the conviction and the sentence handed down by Masipa.

Now found guilty of murder, Pistorius faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years as a first time offender, said Witz.

Oscar Pistorius told a friend he was “terrified” of returning to prison days before he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He speculated that prosecutors would want the sentencing process to proceed swiftly rather than let Pistorius remain under house arrest for an extended period. His voice breaking with emotion, he said of his daughter: “I’m sure she’ll be able to rest as well now”.

“It’s a big relief. I feel it’s a fair decision that the judge gave”, before breaking down in tears.

Pistorius, 29, shot and killed Steenkamp, a law graduate turned model and reality TV star, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013.

In today’s ruling, Justice Lorimer Leach said the identity of the person behind the door was irrelevant.

Judge Eric Leach said: ‘Guilty of murder, with the accused having criminal intent.

Justice Leach overturned that conviction to replace it with murder following a 53 minute court hearing. He agreed with Masipa’s characterization of Pistorius as “a very poor witness”, noting the shifting versions of his account. State prosecutors are however of the opinion that a heated argument between the two forced Steenkamp to run and hide inside the toilet when Pistorius mercilessly fired four fatal shots through the bathroom door, killing her, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

The trial also highlighted the issue of violence against women.

She must now re-sentence Pistorius, who is currently out on parole after serving less than a year of his original five-year sentence.