Earlier this
week the former Olympian Oscar Pistorius was
released from prison after serving just one year of his five year sentence.
Oscar Pistorius made
history when he competed in the London 2012 Olympics as an amputee sprinter
running on carbon fiber prosthetic legs, earning him the nickname “Blade Runner”.
In October 2014,
a South African Judge found Pistorius guilty of culpable
homicide, which is basically the same thing as manslaughter in the United
States, and sentenced him to five years in prison. While he was acquitted of murder, Pistorius
was found to have killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day in
2013. His defense successfully argued that Pistorius thought that it was an
intruder in the bathroom, not Ms. Steenhamp. Pursuant to South African law,
Pistorius applied for house arrest after serving 10 months in prison. His
request was granted, and this past Monday Pistorius was “released
from prison to serve the rest of his five year sentence under house arrest.”
Back in June,
the South African Supreme Court of Appeal announced that they will hear “the
prosecutions’ appeal against Pistorius’s acquittal” on the murder charge
early this November. At the appeal, Pistorius faces a minimum of 15 years in prison
if the Court convicts him of murder. In the mean time, Pistorius will continue
serving his sentence at his uncle’s home in Waterkloof. “The
house is a three-storey converted Dutch Reformed church on a luxury estate, and
has a swimming pool.”
South African law
prevents the prosecutors’ from arguing that the judge’s factual findings were incorrect.
Instead, they will argue that “that
Judge Thokozile Masipa was mistaken in her application of the law when she
convicted Pistorius last year and that a different court could reach a different
decision – namely that Pistorius should have been convicted of murder, not
culpable homicide.” The appellate judges will have to examine the definitions
of murder and culpable homicide in order to make a decision. Many
believe that the prosecutors bringing the appeal have a strong case that
Pistorius committee murder, not culpable homicide. For instance, the fact that
Pistorious fired four shots into the closed bathroom door is a persuasive argument
for murder to some.
Until a verdict
is reached in the appeal, Pistorious will continue living at his uncle’s
mansion.
Sara Montgomery, Staff Editor
Sara Montgomery, Staff Editor
