Pistorius lawyers file papers to oppose prosecution appeal
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius have filed court papers opposing a prosecution move to appeal the verdict and sentence in his murder trial.
Defence lawyers say Judge Thokozile Masipa should not refer the Olympic runner’s case to South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal because there has been no error in law.
The defence papers were filed yesterday, according to a court stamp.
Judge Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of murder for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door.
She convicted him on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced him to five years in prison.
Pistorius’ lawyers say she “correctly applied” the law when she acquitted him of murder.
Prosecutors must ask for Judge Masipa’s permission to appeal against the verdict and the sentence she gave Pistorius.
