Oscar Pistorius prosecutors granted leave to appeal culpable homicide conviction
Last Updated: 10/12/14 6:12pm
A South African court has granted prosecutors leave to appeal Oscar Pistorius' conviction for culpable homicide.
In October, the Paralympian athlete was convicted of the culpable homicide, or manslaughter, of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013 and sentenced to five years in prison.
Prosecutors argued the ruling that acquitted Pistorius of murder charges was wrong, and asked Judge Thokozile Masipa for permission to appeal the conviction. Pistorius's lawyers had opposed the appeal request.
On granting their request, the judge said: "I cannot say the prospect of success at the Supreme Court is remote."
Prosecutors has also hoped to be able to challenge the length of the sentence given to Pistorius, but the judge denied that request.
The judge had found the double amputee not guilty of murder, ruling he did not intend to kill Ms Steenkamp when he fired his gun four times. Pistorius claimed he mistook Miss Steenkamp for an intruder when he killed her on Valentine's Day last year.
The case will now go before South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal, and it is expected to take place next year.
