Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers will argue that “enough is enough” when his case resumes in court on August 26 to hear an appeal by state prosecutors against his six-year murder sentence on the grounds it is too lenient.
In court papers filed by Pistorius’ lawyers on August 11 and seen by Reuters yesterday, the Paralympian’s defence team says that it would argue that “a continuation of this matter is inimical to the interests of justice, patently unfair and that enough is enough”.
The National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said the case would be heard at the High Court in Pretoria next Friday before the original trial Judge Thokozile Masipa.
Pistorius is not expected to attend the hearing.
The Paralympic gold medallist was sentenced in July for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.
The state said last month it would appeal the jail term, which was less than half the 15 years it had sought.
Prosecutors plan to argue that another judge could have come to a different conclusion than Masipa.
If Masipa accepts the argument and grants prosecutors leave to appeal, they will seek a tougher sentence for Pistorius at the
Supreme Court of Appeal.
The double-amputee athlete fired four shots at the model through a bathroom door in his Pretoria home on February 14, 2013.
Masipa initially accepted Pistorius’s argument that he mistook her for a burglar, and sentenced him to five years for manslaughter.
But the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned her verdict and found Pistorius guilty of murder, forcing her to issue a new sentence.
Masipa may immediately decide whether to grant prosecutors permission to appeal, or delay her decision by several days, Mfaku said.
A Pistorius family spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.
The track star was treated in hospital for wrist injuries earlier this month, but prison officials said Pistorius denied trying to kill himself.
The incident coincided with the first day of competition in the Rio Olympic Games.