Oscar Pistorius hasn’t shown remorse, prosecutors insists

Convicted killer and a former celebrity athlete Oscar Pistorius has shown regret but not “true, gut-wrenching” remorse for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, prosecutors have said.

They are seeking to have the Paralympic gold medallist’s six-year sentence for murder increased. According to Daily Mirror report, the prosecutors are saying the current sentence was “shockingly lenient” and an “injustice.”

Pistorius, 30, was jailed in July last year after he was found guilty on appeal of murdering Ms Steenkamp at his home on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

Prosecutors said he shot the model four times through a locked bathroom door during an argument, but the athlete claimed he thought he was firing at an intruder.

South Africa’s state prosecutors have now asked for the right to launch an appeal of the former Olympian’s sentence, which sparked public anger and claims of preferential treatment.

At the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday, the prosecutors argued the sentence by trial Judge Thokozile Masipa was too lenient as it was less than half the minimum 15-year sentence for murder in South Africa.

Prosecutor Andrea Johnson said the High Court did not explain the reasons it deviated from the minimum sentence and Pistorius had not shown any remorse.

She said, “There is no true, gut-wrenching remorse. (The sentence) is shockingly lenient and has accordingly resulted in an injustice.”

Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, was not in court for the hearing.

His lawyers have said he did not deliberately kill Ms Steenkamp, a model and graduate student, at his home in Pretoria, and the leave to appeal should not be granted.

Lead defence lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius was suffering from severe and worsening post-traumatic stress disorder over the case.

The famed runner was originally convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail. That conviction was increased to murder by the Supreme Court of Appeal in December 2015.

His sentence increased to six years by Judge Masipa.