Pistorius verdict changed to murder, could face upto 15 years

Pistorious killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013 after shooting four times through a locked toilet door, and her cries were loud enough to be heard by neighbours. 

Currently under house arrest after spending a year of his original five-year sentence in jail, Pistorius will have to return to court to be re-sentenced, for murder. 

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the lower court did not correctly apply the rule of dolus eventualis — whether Pistorius knew that a death would be a likely result of his actions. 

The five judges, who were unanimous in their verdict, said Pistorius’ evidence and explanations for killing Steenkamp were “implausible” and he had “never offered an acceptable explanation” for firing four times through a closed door. The judges said it was clear that Pistorius had criminal intent in firing, and was therefore guilty of murder. Pistorius, who was not at the supreme court in Bloemfontein to hear the ruling, will have to appear at the high court in Pretoria for fresh sentencing.