Prison looms for Oscar Pistorius after murder conviction

An appeals court decided Thursday that Oscar Pistorius got away with murder when he stood trial for killing his girlfriend, a ruling that will nearly certainly send the disgraced Olympian back to prison. The minimum sentence for homicide in South Africa is 15 years of time of time, still unique circumstances within the case of the previous track show star, together with time already served, his disability and standing as a first-time offender, might imply he’ll get a lower sentence.

“He fired four shots through the door and he never offered an acceptable explanation… he fired not one, but four shots… that is exactly what the accused did”, said Justice Eric Leach.

The Paralympic champion Pistorius served less the a year in prison for killing his girlfriend at their home on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

“All the shots fired through the door would nearly inevitably have struck the person behind it. There would be effectively no place to hide”, Leach said.

Johann Engelbrecht, a criminal lawyer who is not involved in the Pistorius case, said it is doubtful the former athlete’s lawyers could challenge the murder conviction by appealing to the constitutional Court.

Pistorius was not in court for the verdict – he is now under house arrest at his uncle’s luxurious home after being released in October.

“The court misapplied the principles regarding circumstantial evidence”, he said.

“It is inconceivable that a rational person thought he was entitled to fire at this person with a heavy-duty firearm”, said Leach, who described Pistorius’s testimony as “vacillating and untruthful”.

For now, as he awaits a harsher sentence in line with his new conviction, Pistorius will remain under house arrest.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June, was present at the hearing and was seen afterwards outside the court being embraced by members of the African National Congress Women’s League, who were singing songs of celebration.

“Four shots into a tiny toilet when you know somebody is on the other side – that person shooting knows he is going to hit the person”.

“The identity of victim is irrelevant to his guilt”, he said.

“There is a very good chance that this might be appealed”, said Kelly Phelps, University of Cape Town senior law lecturer.

“The argument is that where there’s been a mistake in law that’s been made – that is the only reason that an incorrect verdict has been reached – it would be offensive to the interests of justice in order to allow that verdict to stand”, she said.

He may make his own appeal to the Constitutional Court – the country’s highest court.

From the beginning, prosecutors argued that Pistorius’ intruder story was concocted to cover up his murder of Steenkamp.

“I think it really comes to an end now”, said Witz. “She will be remembered and it’s good for all the women in South Africa”, she said.

A spokesman for Pistorius’s camp said his defense is considering his legal options.