Oscar Pistorius' lawyers fail to stop negligent homicide appeal

A judge rejected Oscar Pistorius' lawyers attempt to stop negligent homicide appeal

The lawyers for Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius failed in their attempt to stop South African prosecutors from appealing his negligent killing conviction and again seeking a murder verdict against him for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, reports the Associated Press.

In November, prosecutors filed appeal papers against the verdict and prison sentence given to Pistorius after he was found guilty of culpable homicide but not guilty of murder in the Feb. 14, 2013, shooting death of Steenkamp. They wanted Pistorius found guilty of murder.

Judge Thokozile Masipa allowed to prosecutors take their case to South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal to challenge her ruling.

Masipa sentenced Pistorius to a five-year prison sentence and the 28-year-old double amputee can be considered for parole in August.

Masipa said that Pistorius acted negligently when he shot Steenkamp four times, but did not intend to kill her. Pistorius has said the shooting was an accident because he mistook her for an intruder.

Pistorius could face 15 years in prison if he is convicted of murder on appeal. Pistorius’ trial can reviewed by a panel of judges at the Supreme Court of Appeal but no date has been set for that appeal.

- Scooby Axson