South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal found Oscar Pistorius guilty of murderon Thursday, overturning a previous court's conviction of culpable homicide in September 2014.
For over two years, Pistorius, 29, argued that he feared girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was an intruder when he killed her on Valentine's Day 2013. He shot her four times through a locked toilet door.
Pistorius originally received a five-year sentence, and after spending one year in prison, he has been on house arrest since October.
Judge Eric Leach claims Pistorius should have realized firing the gun would have killed whoever was behind the door, Steenkamp or an intruder. Leach summed up the entire story in one long sentence:
"This case involves a human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions: a young man overcomes huge physical disabilities to reach Olympic heights as an athlete; in doing so he becomes an international celebrity; he meets a young woman of great natural beauty and a successful model; romance blossoms; and then, ironically on Valentine’s Day, all is destroyed when he takes her life."
Pistorius won six Paralympic gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012, but he is internationally known for qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games. He became the first double-leg amputee to qualify for the Summer Olympics, participating in the 400 meters and 4 x 400-meter relay. Pistorius reached the semi-final of the 400 meters.
A murder verdict comes with a minimum sentence of 15 years, although, this can be altered for extreme circumstances. Pistorius' first year in jail will be factored into his prison sentence, which is yet to be announced.
Pistorius can only appeal the verdict if he proves it raises constitutional issues.
