Oscar Pistorius's sentence more than doubled to 13 years, 5 months

Oscar Pistorius' prison sentence was more than doubled to 13 years and five months on Friday, a surprisingly dramatic intervention by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal in the Olympic athlete's fate after the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

In an announcement that took a matter of minutes, Supreme Court Justice Willie Seriti said a panel of judges unanimously upheld an appeal by prosecutors against Pistorius' original six-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp multiple times in his home in 2013.

Under that initial sentence, which the court called "shockingly lenient," the double-amputee runner could have been released on parole in mid-2019. Now, the earliest he'll be eligible for parole is 2023.

• Oscar Pistorius treated for minor injuries in hospital

The ruling could finally bring an end to the near five-year legal saga surroundingPistorius, a multiple Paralympic champion and record-breaker who wasthe first amputee to run at the Olympics and one of the most celebrated sportsmen in the world.

Steenkamp'sparents, Barry and June, were "emotional" as they watchedSeritideliver the verdict live on television at their home, family lawyer TaniaKoensaid.

"They feel there has been justice forReeva. She can now rest in peace,"Koentold The Associated Press. "But at the same time, people must realize that people think this is the end of the road for them ... the fact is they still live withReeva'sloss every day."

'Shockingly lenient'

PistoriuskilledSteenkampin the pre-dawn hours of Valentine's Day 2013 after shooting four times through a closed toilet cubicle door with his 9 mm pistol. He claimed he mistook the 29-year-old model and reality TV star for an intruder and was initially convicted of manslaughter by trial judgeThokozileMasipa. That conviction was overturned and replaced with a murder conviction by the Supreme Court in 2015.Pistoriuswas then sentenced to six years for murder byMasipa, a decision also now rejected by the Supreme Court.

Prosecutors called the six-year sentence much too lenient and the Supreme Court agreed, saying in a full written ruling released later that "the sentence of six years' imprisonment is shockingly lenient to a point where it has the effect of trivializing this serious offence."

The Supreme Court said thatPistorius"displays a lack of remorse, and does not appreciate the gravity of his actions."

Pistorius' brother, Carl, wrote on Twitter: "Shattered. Heartbroken. Gutted." A spokesman for thePistoriusfamily didn't answer calls from the AP.

Pistoriusshould have been sentenced to the prescribed minimum of 15 years for murder,Seritisaid, as he delivered the verdict of a panel of five judges at the Supreme Court in the central city of Bloemfontein. There is no death penalty in South Africa.

The new sentence of 13 years and five months took into account the one year and seven monthsPistoriusserved in prison and under house arrest after his manslaughter conviction.

The new sentence was backdated to start on the day he began his murder sentence, on July 6 last year.

Supreme Court judges are generally reluctant to change sentences handed down by trial courts, and it's rare for them to change one so dramatically.

"I did not expect the Supreme Court of Appeal to hand down such a lengthy sentence of imprisonment," legal analyst Ulrich Roux said on theeNCAnews channel. "But, if one looks at what the law states, and given the fact that murder does carry the minimum sentence of 15years in prison, I think the decision could be vindicated."

Pistoriusmust serve at least half of the 13 years and five months nearly seven years before he can be considered for parole. He has served a year and five months of his murder sentence.

Pistorius, who turned 31 on Wednesday, is being held at theAtteridgevilleCorrectional Centre on the outskirts of the South African capital, Pretoria, and did not attend any of the appeal hearings.

Friday's decision also has possible consequences for where he is held for the remainder of his sentence.Pistoriuswas moved from the high securityKgosiMampuruII Prison in central Pretoria toAtteridgeville, which houses prisoners sentenced to six years or less.Pistoriusmight now be moved back to a higher security facility.

Pistorius' lawyers have one avenue left open to them if they want to challenge the new sentence, and that is to appeal to the constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa.

Pistoriusfailed with an appeal to the constitutional Court last year to challenge his murder conviction.