Oscar Pistorius denied leave to appeal for Steenkamp murder

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been denied leave to appeal against his conviction for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The Constitutional Court has made the ruling, meaning Pistorius will now be sentenced in April. Pistorius killed Ms Steenkamp in February 2013 after firing four times through a locked toilet door. A manslaughter verdict was overturned in December and a murder verdict introduced in its place.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the Constitutional Court found “no prospect of success” in Pistorius’ appeal.
The case will now go back to Judge Thokozile Masipa - who cleared the athlete of murder in the original case - for sentencing on 18 April. Prosecutors are believed to be targeting a sentence of at least 15 years in jail for Pistorius.