South Africa High Court Denies Pistorius Appeal

(ATR) Olympian Oscar Pistorius faces at least 15 years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

On Thursday, South Africa's Constitutional Court decided not to grant Pistorius the right to appeal his murder conviction, a verdict that was changed in December from the lighter charge of culpable homicide.

The verdict was changed by the Supreme Court of Appeals due to an incorrect interpretation of the legal rule dolus eventualis, or direct intention - whether Pistorius knew he might kill somebody as a result of his actions.

On Valentine’s Day in 2013, Pistorius fired four gunshots through a bathroom door that struck and killed Steenkamp. Pistorius claims that he believed the person on the other side of the door of his bedroom was an intruder.

The incident came just six months after Pistorius became the first amputee to compete in the Olympics at the London 2012 Games. The sprinter known as "Blade Runner" also won gold medals in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympics.

Pistorius filed his appeal of the murder conviction to the Constitutional Court on Jan. 11 to overturn the ruling of the Court of Appeals.

"We can confirm that Oscar Pistorius' leave to appeal has been denied," the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku told Reuters.

The sentencing hearing for Pistorius is expected to take place on Apr. 18, the date he was originally slated to provide an update on his appeal to the Constitutional Court.The minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years, according to the Associated Press, which reports that there is leeway for the judge to reduce it.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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