Pretoria – After months of anticipation, the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’ conviction of culpable homicide be scaled up to murder.
Justice Eric Leach, reading the verdict on behalf of the full bench of five judges on Thursday, said the court had found him guilty of murder under the principle of Dolus Eventualis.
The panel of judges has had several months to consider the State and defence’s cases, which were first submitted in writing.
The National Prosecuting Authority had brought an application challenging Pistorius's culpable homicide conviction for shooting and killing Reeva Steenkamp in the toilet cubicle of his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Pistorius was placed under correctional supervision at home as from 20 October 2015 after serving a fifth of his prison term.
The case will now return to High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa for sentencing.– SAnews.gov.za
