Prosecutors in South Africa are taking court action to try and secure a longer prison sentence for Oscar Pistorius. The Olympic athlete was jailed for six years earlier this month for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
In her ruling, High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa said she believed that there were "substantial and compelling" reasons why the 29-year-old should not receive the minimum 15 year sentence for his crime, including his obvious remorse and the fact he believed Reeva was an intruder.
CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY
© Photo: Getty ImagesProsecutors are now seeking a longer prison sentence for Oscar Pistorius
But in a strongly-worded statement released on Thursday, the National Prosecuting Authority said that "the sentence of six years imprisonment, in all circumstances, is disproportionate to the crime of murder committed [and] shockingly lenient".
The NPA added that the ruling was "an injustice and has the potential to bring the administration of justice into disrepute".
Oscar shot and killed Reeva in the early hours of the morning on Valentine's Day 2013, saying he mistook her for an intruder when he fired through the bathroom door.
He was initially given a five-year term for manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder on appeal last December. He is currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria.
Reeva lost her life in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013
Following the NPA's decision to appeal, the Steenkamp family said in a statement issued to the Mail: "June and Barry have always fully supported (prosecutor) Gerrie Nel and his team's fight for justice for Reeva.
"As they have no input in the decision of the state to appeal, they are focusing their energy on the upcoming official media launch of The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation on 19 August, on what would have been Reeva's 33rd birthday, at Sun International's The Boardwalk, in her home town of Port Elizabeth.
"Reeva was killed on the same morning she was due to deliver a speech against the abuse of women at a school in Johannesburg. June strives to be Reeva's voice and continue Reeva's passion in educating and empowering victims of domestic violence and abuse."
