I really can't see anything changing. It seems the Law in SA is far different to what we expect in our Countries ....

Careful there Aardy. Parrot is South African.

No disrespect intended Shads, the Laws of every Country differ. In Oz he would at least be convicted of Manslaughter, which still carries a Life Sentence ....

"I cannot say the prospect of success at the Supreme Court is remote," Judge Masipa said in granting the appeal.

Masipa dismissed the state's application to appeal the five- year prison sentence, meaning Pistorius' jail term will not be extended unless the state convinces the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the original culpable homicide verdict.

Her decision to rule out murder was criticised by several legal experts and the Women's League of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) as an erroneous interpretation of the law.

possibly her comment would indicate to the world that even SHE thinks she co*ked it up :-"

Aardvark wrote:I really can't see anything changing. It seems the Law in SA is far different to what we expect in our Countries ....

Too true there, Aardy ................ what sort of system would provide for the original judge to hear an appeal against their own judgement?

I don't think he has a leg to stand on for an appeal.

Jim Jefferies take on the Pistorius case. Funny or sick depending on your sense of humor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT0Vz156AdY

There was another high profile case in South Africa recently where the wife of a British businessman was murdered in a supposedly staged robbery a few years back.The husband was indited from the UK to face trial after it was revealed he had a penchant for male prostitutes and wanted rid of his wife,so staged the murder.
Despite having a couple of confessions from the "robbers" the judge threw the case out stating the police evidence was shambolic.
So the guy was free to return to the UK and the wifes family left wondering what on earth was going on.

GT was following this one and if GT was on the jury he would be furious the judge didn't let GT convict the British Indian groom who was a *****. GT also wishes he'd been on the Pistorius jury. No wet bus ticket from GT.

GT93 wrote:GT was following this one and if GT was on the jury he would be furious the judge didn't let GT convict the British Indian groom who was a *****. GT also wishes he'd been on the Pistorius jury. No wet bus ticket from GT.

Errr GT ......... South Africa, like Thailand, doesn't have jury trials.

What a bummer. Then GT should have been posting if he was the judge ... the defendants would have been for the high jump ...

The South African justice system hasn't been looking too flash lately.

[quote="GT93"]the British Indian groom who was a *****.

That was the problem GT; he didn't want to be!

Yes. Hopefully the widespread publicity of his sexual practices will he a harsh punishment. What a loser. Too scared to come out? Looks a worse dude than Pistorius. We're near the bottom of the barrel.

Finally justice has prevailed ..... https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/302 ... steenkamp/

jackspratt wrote:

Aardvark wrote: Too true there, Aardy ................ what sort of system would provide for the original judge to hear an appeal against their own judgement?

In which country, and in relation to which case, has that occurred Jack?
In the Pistorius case, the appeal against the original judge's decision, (Judge Maspia), was made to, and decided by, 'The SA Supreme Court of Appeal, (comprising 5 judges NOT including Judge Maspia).
Simplistically, the Supreme Court decided Maspia had made an error in Law, and used it's power to overturn her decision, and grant the Prosecution application to upgrade the conviction to Murder.
Arising from that decision, the Supreme Court became empowered to make one of two Orders, namely either to order a new trial, or refer the case back to the original trial Judge, (Maspia), for resentencing, but this time the sentence to be based upon a Murder conviction, and therefore such sentence to fall within the parameters applying under SA Law, (i.e. my understanding minimum of 15years- with allowable 'special circumstances reductions- and a maximum of 20 years).
There remains only one further appeal opening for Pistorius, and that is to the Constitutional Court the grounds for which, I understood, is restricted to matters of law. Personally, having studied the very comprehensive and thorough decision of the Supreme Court,I think going forward to the stage, would be a waste of time.
I anticipate the net sentence will end up being 12 years and, bearing in mind he must serve at least 50% of the actual sentence, he will probably serve around another approximate 6/7 years, before being paroled.
I believe the SA justice system, has been demonstrated to work, every bit as favourably as, for example, USA, GB or Oz. Nothing I have written is intended to imply my personal agreement or disagreement, with the final verdict, only that I am of the opinion the requirements of a fair and impartial treatment of this case, have been fulfilled.

Common sense at last? bang him up for life?

He can't run away after all.

Give him 10 years. It fits the circumstance.

Holy smokes he got bail approved.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/08/afric ... index.html

His lawyers say they will appeal that decision to the Constitutional Court and that Pistorius should be allowed to remain free on bail while they do so.

The hearing before the Constitutional Court could take months.

At the hearing Tuesday, the prosecution said Pistorius may flee to Italy or Mozambique.

"We feel strongly about the fact that he needs monitoring, and should not leave the house at any time," state prosecutor Gerri Nel said.

Doubt he'll flee though.

But his lawyers worth every cent. No wonder Thais don't want a current motion to allow foreign lawyers to practice in Thailand to pass, they've got nothing on these guys in S.A.

RW

Still too lenient for what he did imo but better than the previous sentences that were a joke.....

Oscar Pistorius jail term for killing Reeva Steenkamp more than doubled

A South African court has increased Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius's jail sentence for killing his girlfriend to 13 years and five months.
Prosecutors had argued that the six-year term for murdering Reeva Steenkamp was "shockingly light".
Ms Steenkamp's parents were "emotional" as they watched the ruling at home on TV, a spokeswoman said.
"They feel there has been justice for Reeva. She can now rest in peace," Tania Koen told Associated Press.
"But at the same time, people think this is the end of the road for them... the fact is they still live with Reeva's loss every day," Ms Koen said.
Oscar Pistorius claimed he shot dead Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013 after mistaking her for a burglar.
The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein has now given Pistorius the minimum 15 years prescribed for murder in South Africa, less time already served.
The lower court had justified the six-year sentence by citing mitigating circumstances such as rehabilitation and remorse. It said they outweighed aggravating factors such as his failure to fire a warning shot.
Pistorius's brother Carl said on social media that he was "shattered. Heartbroken. Gutted" at the decision.
"We have all suffered incomprehensible loss. The death of Reeva was and still is a great loss for our family too," he wrote.
He was initially given a five-year term for manslaughter in 2014, but was found guilty of murder on appeal in 2015.
Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp four times through a locked toilet door at his home in the capital Pretoria.

IMO he should have got life.