The State’s Andrea Johnson today argued that six years imprisonment handed to Pistorius for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shockingly inappropriate, and that it did not reflect the seriousness of the crime.

Pistorius is currently serving his sentence at the Atteridgeville Correctional Service in Pretoria.

Advocate Andrea Johnson further argued it was a mitigating factor, that the court regarded Pistorius' belief that there was an intruder in his home on the night of the murder, and that the court failed to provide substantial factors to deviate from the minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

She says that Pistorius did not show enough remorse for the killing of Steenkamp. There were also questions raised to why four shots were fired on the morning, and as to why no warning shot was fired.

Advocate Barry Roux, for Pistorius, argued that it is unfair to argue that Pistorius never showed any remorse.

Justice Lamont asked Roux why Pistorius never shouted at the intruder, and Roux’s response was that the court should look through the eyes of the accused to understand how he was feeling at the time.

Roux said the accused shot four times because he did not have his prosthetic legs on, and without them he was vulnerable. He says Pistorius fear for crime, the fact that it was 03:00 in the morning, and that he suffered from anxiety should be taken into consideration.

He further argued that Pistorius actions on that morning were directed towards the intruder.

Justice Meyer raised the point that if he had to shoot four times, there was no way out for the person inside a small cubicle, therefore Pistorius was intending to kill.

Roux replied if he was an able body, Pistorius would have been more calculated and would have made better decisions.

The State argued that Pistorius competed in sport with able-bodied people, and there was never an issue with that.

Roux further stated in his appeal that Judge Masipa went through a very difficult time during the trial and her decision was balanced. He says Masipa used her discretion when she made the judgment.

Meanwhile, the Steenkamp family's representative, Tanya Koen, says the Steenkamp family supports the State's appeal and that they hope that justice will be served. “The Steenkamp family believes in the South Africa law system and in the processes that needs to be followed,” says Koen.

The Regional chair for the ANC Women’s League’s Regional Chair, Mapaseka Nkwane, in her turn said they hope that justice will see that Pistorius receive a harsher sentence.

“There are many people who have killed their spouses, who are in jail and received harsher sentences. The lady (Reeva) had a bright future and her life was abruptly cut short, now he says he is sorry, let justice be served,” says Nkwane.

The SCA's court roll, included judges Ronnie Bosielo, Willie Sereti, Colin Lamont, Pieter Meyer and Fikile Mokgohloa who heard the case of the Gauteng director of public prosecutions versus Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius.

Mark Steenbok & Josca Human/ OFM News