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S.African state to appeal Pistorius six-year sentence

Xinhua, July 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday it will appeal the six-year sentence imposed on Paralympian Oscar Piatorius.

"The NAP has decided to file an application for leave to appeal," it said in a statement.

The NPA said the sentence was "shockingly lenient" .

The sentence is lenient for a murder case and sets a wrong precedence, the NPA insisted.

The NPA's decision won the applause from the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) which is dissatisfied with the six-year sentence delivered by Judge Masipa.

"As the ANCWL we believe that an appeal is at the interests of the justice system and the public at large. It would further restore confidence in the justice system to all the women who continue to be victims of gender based violence," the organization said.

Research has proven that every eight hours a woman is killed by a partner in the country and to reduce the rocketing figures on gender based violence cases, there is urgent need for a decisive action from the justice cluster, the ANCWL said.

The ANCWL reiterated that harsher sentences must be imposed on offenders of violence against children and women.

"As the women's league we believe that Pistorius should be granted a sentence suitable for murder which should be anything between fifteen to twenty years. We also respect the decision of the Steenkamp family to take some time to heal since court processings dragged for three consecutive years," the ANCWL said.

On July 6, the High Court in Pretoria handed down a six-year sentence to Pistorius for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Last month, Pistorius's legal team argued for a noncustodial sentence citing his physical and emotional vulnerability as mitigating factors.

But the state was seeking the minimum sentence of 15 years to be imposed, arguing that Pistorius failed to show remorse for his actions.

Pistorius was convicted of murdering Steenkamp at his home on Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius insisted in trial that he mistook her as an intruder and his life was in danger when he fired at the door of the bathroom. Endit