The six-time Paralympic champion was found guilty of culpable homicide and given a five-year prison sentence last Tuesday (October 21) for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steevnkamp.

Despite Dup De Bruyn, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, stating that "justice was served" and Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry adding "we are satisfied", state prosecutors have decided to appeal both the conviction and sentence given to Pistorius last week.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Nathi Mncube said on his Twitter feed: "Oscar Pistorius judgement, NPA will be appealing both the conviction and sentence."

He added in a statement: "The prosecutors are now preparing the necessary papers in order to be able to file within the next few days."

Pistorius was cleared of premeditated murder last month but was convicted of culpable homicide, with Judge Thokozile Masipa saying he had been negligent.

Prosecutors had called for a minimum of 10 years in jail for the athlete, who also competed in the Olympics at London 2012. 

Oscar Pistorius was taken straight to Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru II jail following his sentencing ©Getty Images



In her sentencing, Judge Masipa ruled a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community, but a long sentence would not be appropriate because it would appear to lack mercy.

She said there must be a balance between "retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation".

"Sentencing is about achieving the right balance," said Judge Masipa.

"Sentencing is not a perfect exercise."

The Judge could have imposed a jail-time of anything up to 15 years on Pistorius or hand out a suspended sentence or fine.

As things stand, Pistorius is eligible for release after 10 months so he can complete his sentence under house arrest.

The International Paralympic Committee have ruled that the 27-year-old would not be able to compete at any major event, including Rio 2016, for five years, even if he is released before his five year sentence is complete.

The double-leg amputee fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013 because he claimed he believed there was an intruder in the house.

Three of those bullets struck 29-year-old model and law graduate Steenkamp, killing her.

Following his sentencing, Pistorius has been serving his time in the hospital ward of Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru II jail. 

June Steenkamp has claimedher daughter Reeva was set to leave Oscar Pistorius on the night of the fatal shooting ©Getty Images



Steenkamp's mother, June, has since claimed that her daughter was about to leave her three-month long boyfriend on the night of the shooting.

"Her clothes were packed," Mrs Steenkamp wrote in her new book Reeva: A Mother's Story, serialised in Britain's The Times.

"There is no doubt in our minds: she had decided to leave Oscar that night."

Speaking to The Times, June Steenkamp calls Pistorius "pathetic", "moody", "gun-toting" and "possessive".

She rejects both his apology and his version of events, but admits: "He's the only one who knows the truth."

In the book, due to be published on November 6, June adds: "She had confided to me that she hadn't slept with him.

"They'd shared a bed, but she was scared to take the relationship to that level."

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