South African judge rejects bid to challenge six-year sentence in Oscar Pistorius murder appeal

JOHANNESBURG August 26 (Reuters) : South African Judge Thokozile Masipa on Friday rejected an application by state prosecutors to appeal Oscar Pistorius’ six-year murder sentence, saying the petition had no reasonable prospects of success.

Masipa had sentenced the Paralympic gold medallist in July for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013, but the prosecution had said the decision was too lenient.

Masipa sentenced the Paralympic gold medallist in July over the killing of his girlfriend Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

The prosecution said the sentence that should see Pistorius eligible for parole in three years was too lenient.

Pistorius initially received a five-year jail term for culpable homicide, the South African equivalent of manslaughter.

He was released from prison last October after just a year behind bars.

The 29-year-old was ordered to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest at his uncle’s home.

But the conviction was upgraded to murder after an appeal by prosecutors.

Pistorius was earlier this month treated at a private hospital in South Africa for injuries to his wrists, after allegedly trying to self-harm in prison.