JOHANNESBURG – The South African prosecutors’ office says it will appeal against Oscar Pistorius‘ six-year prison sentence for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, calling it “shockingly” lenient.
The National Prosecuting Authority says it will file appeal papers on Thursday.
Pistorius was sentenced on July 6 for shooting Steenkamp at his home in 2013.
READ MORE: Oscar Pistorius handed 6 year prison sentence in death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Prosecutors had sought 15 years in prison for the double-amputee Olympic athlete, the prescribed minimum sentence for murder in South Africa, but a judge said there were compelling circumstances in Pistorius’ case to give him a lesser sentence.
Prosecutors said Thursday the six-year sentence was “shockingly too lenient” for the crime of murder and was an “injustice.”
Pistorius was convicted of murder after an appeal by prosecutors, having initially been acquitted of the charge.
VIDEO: Pistorius gets 6 years for girlfriend’s murder