Pistorius appeals murder conviction

PRETORIA, March 5, 2014 (Xinhua) – S. African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius (C) is escorted outside court during a recess on the third day of his trial at the high court in Pretoria, S. Africa.

Jan. 15, 2016

CAPE TOWN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Murder convicted Oscar Pistorius, South Africa's double-amputee "Blade Runner", has filed papers with the Constitutional Court in a bid to appeal his conviction, his legal team confirmed on Monday.

All papers were served on the prosecution team, Oscar's lawyers said without giving details.

In early December last year, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) convicted Oscar Pistorius of murder, overturning his earlier conviction of culpable homicide for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Feb. 14, 2013.

Oscar was released on October 20 after barely a year into a five-year prison term for killing Steenkamp.

If Oscar appeal with the Constitutional Court is unsuccessful, he would have to return to the High Court for sentencing.

Unless he provides substantial and compelling reasons to the High Court, Oscar could face a fresh conviction of murder and be sentenced to 15 years.

Pistorius insisted in trial that he mistook Steenkamp as an intruder and his life was in danger when he fired at the door of the bathroom where Steenkamp was inside.