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New court date for Pistorius' murder trial

Posted on September 22, 2015 from South africa ι Report #33983

Pretoria, Sep 22 (IANS) South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) confirmed on Tuesday that it will hear the appeal in the case of para-athlete Oscar Pistorius case on November 3.

Pistorius is serving a five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day two years ago. He was found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home in 2013.

The state is appealing the athlete's culpable homicide conviction, arguing that he should have been found guilty of murder and the prosecutors will again press for a murder conviction.

Judges Lex Mpati, Nonkosi Mhlantla, Eric Leach, Steven Majiedt and Elizabeth Baartman will hear the appeal, reports ewn.co.za on Tuesday.

Pistorius's defence says that the judge was correct in her decision, and that the state is simply trying to re-introduce its failed case against the double-ampoutee athlete.