Judge Grants Prosecution in Appeal in Pistorius Case
FILE - Judge Thokozile Masipa listens in court in Pretoria, South Africa in the case against Oscar Pistorius.
A South African judge has granted prosecutors an appeal of the culpable homicide verdict against athlete Oscar Pistorius, clearing them to seek a more serious murder conviction in the country's Supreme Court.
Judge Thokozile Masipa announced her decision Wednesday, saying she "cannot say the prospect of success at the Supreme Court is remote."
She originally ruled in September that prosecutors gave only circumstantial evidence that Pistorius was guilty of premeditated murder when he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, and handed down the lesser conviction of culpable homicide.
Prosecutors argued during the 41-day trial that Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp after an argument, while he maintained he thought he was firing at a nighttime intruder.
Masipa sentenced Pistorius in October to five years in prison. His lawyers have said he could be released to house arrest within a year.
Pistorius is known as the "blade runner" for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs. In 2012, he became the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics.
Judge Grants Prosecution in Appeal an Pistorius Case
1/6Brandon Liggons, 2, holds an image of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
2/6Judge Thokozile Masipa delivers judgment during the appeal by prosecutors against the verdict and sentence of Oscar Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Dec. 10, 2014.
3/6State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks during his appeal against the verdict and sentence of South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Dec. 9, 2014.
4/6Judge Thokozile Masipa listens in court while State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel outlined his objections to the verdict and sentence against Pistorius who was convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide in October by Masipa, in Pretoria, South Africa, Dec. 9, 2014.
5/6Defense attorney Barry Roux puts forward his arguments in court in the case for Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria, South Africa, Dec. 9, 2014.
6/6Oscar Pistorius's lawyer, Barry Roux, arrives at the high court in Pretoria. The State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel presented arguments in the case against Pistorius, who was acquitted of murder for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, South Africa, Dec. 9, 2014.
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