Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius: Prosecutors appeal for longer sentence

They told the Supreme Court of Appeal the six-year sentence was "shockingly light" and he should get 15 years.

Defence lawyers say the sentence handed down by a lower court is appropriate.

Pistorius claimed he shot dead Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013 after mistaking her for a burglar at his home in the capital Pretoria.

The lower court justified deviating from the prescribed 15-year sentence by saying mitigating circumstances such as rehabilitation and remorse outweighed aggravating factors such as his failure to fire a warning shot.

Oscar Pistorius: Judge rejects prosecutors' bid to increase sentence

Judge Thokozile Masipa said in the High Court in Johannesburg that she was not persuaded there was a "reasonable prospect of success on appeal".

"I grant the following order: the application for leave to appeal against the sentence is dismissed with costs," she said.

Prosecutors had previously stated they would appeal the six-year sentence, describing it as "shockingly too lenient".

Pistorius case to be heard by Supreme Court on Nov. 3

The Supreme Court announced the date on Tuesday. The court said the appeal by prosecutors against Pistorius' acquittal for murder for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp will be heard by a panel of five judges.

Pistorius was found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home in 2013.

Prosecutors say Judge Thokozile Masipa made errors at Pistorius' murder trial last year and want the Supreme Court to re-examine her verdict.

Pistorius' parole review hearing postponed for 2 weeks

The department's parole review board met on Friday to consider a number of cases but didn't complete them, it said in a statement. Pistorius' case was one of those which still must be reviewed.

The double-amputee Olympian was initially approved to be released and moved to house arrest last month. However, South Africa's justice minister intervened and ordered a review, saying a parole board's decision at a hearing back in June was premature.

Pistorius parole board review set for Sept. 18

Pistorius' family said in a statement Thursday that they had taken note of the date but would not comment further.

The double-amputee runner was denied early release last week after serving 10 months of his five-year manslaughter sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. 

The justice department said then the decision to release the Olympian to house arrest was taken too early.

Denied release for now, Pistorius remains controversial

As well as being wrong — Pistorius was convicted of manslaughter, not murder in Reeva Steenkamp's killing — they show the public outcry and political pressure that South African authorities face in Pistorius' case, specifically whether the former star athlete should be released early from prison.

Pistorius release put on hold by SAfrican justice department

Department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga says Pistorius' release will have to be reviewed again because he was approved to be moved to house arrest too early.

Mthunzi says Pistorius should have served 10 months of his sentence before being considered for release. He was approved for parole in June, eight months into his sentence.

Pistorius prosecutors file appeal papers at Supreme Court

Court registrar Paul Myburgh said the papers were filed Monday, four days ahead of Pistorius' expected release from prison to be moved to house arrest.

Prosecutors want a panel of judges at the Supreme Court to overrule a decision by another judge to acquit the double-amputee Olympic athlete of murder for killing girlfriend Reva Steenkamp in 2013.