OMNISPORT

The prosecution in the Oscar Pistorius case will appeal his six-year prison sentence for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, describing it as "shockingly lenient".

Pistorius was handed the sentence this month after seeing his initial conviction of culpable homicide upgraded to murder by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal last December.

A charge of murder carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, however, Judge Thokozile Masipa had the discretion to impose a shorter term.

Six-time Paralympic gold medallist Pistorius claimed he believed then girlfriend Ms Steenkamp was an intruder when he shot her dead through a bathroom door at his home in February 2013.

He was originally sentenced to five years imprisonment in October 2014 following his culpable homicide conviction but was released on house arrest 12 months later.

Pistorius' lawyers confirmed after the sentencing that they would not appeal.

But, in announcing its intention to appeal, the National Prosecution Authority labelled the sentence "an injustice and has the potential to bring the administration of justice into disrepute".