South African authorities have issued a warrant of arrest for Oscar Pistorius, a day after the Paralympic champion was convicted on appeal of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, ENCA television reported on Friday.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upgraded the 29-year-old athlete’s sentence to murder from ‘culpable homicide’, South Africa’s equivalent of manslaughter, for which he had received a five-year sentence.
A murder conviction normally carries a minimum 15-year jail sentence.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority issued the arrest warrant, ENCA said.
Pistorius shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead through the door of a bathroom in his home in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Judge Eric Leach said: ‘Guilty of murder, with the accused having criminal intent. The matter is referred back to the trial court to consider an appropriate sentence.’
Mr Leach said, regardless of who might have behind the door, Pistorius should have known someone could be killed if he fired.
Pistorius was released from jail on October 19 after serving one year of a five-year sentence and is under house arrest