Appeal court rules Oscar Pistorius conviction upgraded to murder

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, in an appeal court ruling that has set aside his original conviction for culpable homicide.

The appeal judges concluded that the judge who previously handled the case had been wrong on several points of law when delivering a verdict of manslaughter, for which Pistorius received a fiveyear sentence.

The five appeal judges, who were unanimous in their verdict, said his explanations for killing Reeva Steenkamp were “implausible” and he had “never offered an acceptable explanation” for firing four times through a closed door of the bathroom in his Pretoria house on Feb. 14, 2013.

Pistorius will have to appear at the high court in Pretoria for fresh sentencing by the original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa.

The Paralympic gold medalist, 29, has been under house arrest since Oct. 20, when he left prison in Pretoria after 10 months on parole for good behavior.