Oscar Pistorius in court with Barry Roux. Photo by Pool/Getty Images News
Oscar Pistorius in court with Barry Roux. Photo by Pool/Getty Images News
The Supreme Court of Appeal are currently hearing the state’s case against Oscar Pistorius, as the NPA presents its arguments to extend the former Olympian’s jail sentence.
The National Prosecuting Authority have labelled the six-year sentence he was handed in 2015 as ‘shockingly low’. Despite initially being convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 for shooting dead his partner Reeva Steenkamp, that conviction was upgraded to murder.
However, the state argue that his current jail term doesn’t reflect the severity of the updated charge. Whilst the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein are hearing the case today, any ruling would have to come at a later date. Even then, an appeal would be expected, and it’s not something that could be applied overnight.
Representing Oscar Pistorius in court is Advocate Barry Roux. He’s been defending the blade runner and Judge Mashipo – the magistrate who gave him the initial sentence.
In today’s session, Roux praised the due diligence Mashipo showed in the original case, and stated that she was meticulous in following the letter of the law:
#OscarPistorius Roux says Masipa balanced all the facts – and found compelling circumstances to deviate from 15 years.
— Janke Tolmay (@janke_tolmay) November 3, 2017
#OscarPistorius: Roux says Masipa took into account that Oscar had been through a lot emotionally. @TeamNews24
— Amanda Khoza (@MandaKhoza) November 3, 2017
As for his client, Mr Pistorious, Roux argued that he was being treated like a ‘sacrificial lamb’; used as an offering to appease a demanding crowd:
#OscarPistorius Roux says his client is traumatized and has been made a “sacrificial lamb”
— Rethabile Nephthys (@RNephthys) November 3, 2017
#OscarPistorius: Roux again says Masipa considered several factors in arriving to her six years jail sentence. @TeamNews24
— Amanda Khoza (@MandaKhoza) November 3, 2017
Pistorious killed Reeva Steenkamp by firing at her through the bathroom door. He has famously defended himself by claiming he thought she was an intruder. Needless to say, this logic hasn’t convinced everyone. Least of all, the NPA.