State files application to appeal convicted murderer Pistorius prison sentence

The State has filed an application for leave to appeal against paralympian Oscar Pistorius' murder sentence, the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed on Friday.

The application was filed shortly before the cut-off time on Friday afternoon at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.

Last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa denied the prosecution team leave to appeal, but the State maintains that the six-year jail term the judge imposed on the convicted murderer is too short.

The six-year sentence was handed down after the Supreme Court of Appeal altered the judge's earlier culpable homicide verdict to murder.

The State argues that Pistorius deserves a longer sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day three years ago.

Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

According to the State, the six-year sentence fails to reflect the seriousness of the crime and outrage of the public.

The State wants a 15-year sentence for Pistorius. But Judge Masipa found compelling and substantial circumstances that persuaded her to deviate from the minimum sentence of 15-year imprisonment.

The defense argues that the case should be put to rest as Pistorius has already served a year in prison and house arrest, making it an effective seven-year sentence. Endit