A
request by prosecutors to appeal against Oscar Pistorius' conviction for
manslaughter and five-year jail term will be heard on December 9.
They
argue he should have been found guilty of murder for shooting dead his
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door at his Pretoria home.
The
South African prosecutors claimed their appeal over Judge Thokozile Masipa's
verdict and prison sentence has "reasonable prospects" of success.
The
Paralympian athlete could be released after serving 10 months behind bars. He
would then complete the rest of the sentence under house arrest at his uncle's
home.
The
punishment had previously described as "shockingly light" by
prosecutors.
Judge
Masipa found the double amputee not guilty of murder, ruling he did not intend
to kill when he fired his gun four times.
Miss Steenkamp
Pistorius
killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year
Pistorius,
27, was convicted of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, by the judge, who said
he acted negligently.
He
claimed he mistook Miss Steenkamp for an intruder when he killed her on
Valentine's Day last year.
Prosecutors
must first apply to Judge Masipa for permission to ultimately appeal her
decisions in the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Their
initial application will be heard next month by her at North Gauteng High
Court, the same courthouse where Pistorius' seven-month murder trial was held.
Legal
expert Marius du Toit said Pistorius' defence team "would be very
nervous" if the case was referred to the Supreme Court of Appeal because
of the chance of a murder conviction.
South
Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said it had been informed by Pistorius'
defence lawyers that they would oppose the appeal.
Pistorius
can attend next month's hearing and apply to be released from prison on bail if
the appeal goes ahead, prosecution spokesman Nathi Mncube said.
The
athlete's lawyer Brian Webber said he had not discussed with his client if he
would appear in court or if they would seek bail.
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