Oscar Pistorius murder sentence more than doubled to 13 years

Oscar Pistorius has had his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp increased from six to 13 years and five months.

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal more than doubled the former Paralympian's prison sentence on Friday (24 November). The court handed him the minimum 15-year murder sentence, subtracting the time he has already served.

Pistorius killed Steenkamp by firing four bullets from a handgun through a closed bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2014. He claims that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

He was initially sentenced to six years for culpable homicide in 2014. The court justified the shorter sentence by citing the athlete's rehabilitation and remorse as mitigating factors.

Prosecutors argued that the term was "shockingly lenient" and appealed the decision.

Women's rights activists said at the time that the short sentence sent out a message of impunity in a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.

The athlete only served ten months of his initial sentence before he was released and put under house arrest.

Pistorius was not in court for Friday's ruling.

Tania Koen, a spokeswoman for the Steenkamp family, said: "This is an emotional thing for them. They just feel that their trust in the justice system has been confirmed this morning."

South African legal commentator Llewellyn Curlewis told Sky News: "As far as I'm concerned, this was the correct outcome at long last."