South African judge to respond on Wednesday to request for appeal in Oscar Pistorius case

By Lynsey Chutel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PRETORIA, South Africa _ A South African judge says she will respond to the prosecution’s appeal of the Oscar Pistorius verdict on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the Pretoria High Court that the decision to acquit Pistorius of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, should be overturned. Nel also argued that star-athlete’s punishment was “shockingly inappropriate.”

Pistorius’ defence attorney, Barry Roux, argued against allowing the prosecution to appeal the verdict and sentence.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, who presided over the Pistorius trial, will also decide whether the case can be heard at the Supreme Court of Appeal