Pistorius trial: Steenkamp's father 'relieved' after new appeal verdict

The father of slain model Reeva Steenkamp said on Thursday he felt a sense of ‘relief’ after South Africa's appeal court found that Oscar Pistorius was guilty of murdering Reeva, overturning the original lesser conviction of culpable homicide.

"It's a big relief. I feel it's a fair decision that the judge gave," Barry Steenkamp said in a brief interview on local television station ANN7, before breaking down in tears.

South Africa's "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius was found guilty on Thursday of murdering his girlfriend, in an appeal court ruling that could see him sent back to prison for up to 15 years.

The Supreme Court upgraded the 29-year-old Paralympian's sentence on appeal to murder from "culpable homicide", for which he had received a five-year sentence.

Pistorius was released on parole on Oct. 19, having spent one day less than a year in prison for shooting dead model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. He was meant to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

The athlete, known for the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he uses when running, will be sentenced for the new murder conviction by a lower court at a date still to be determined.

Image: Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry Steenkamp looks on during the sentencing hearing of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria October 15, 2014

Photograph: Antoine de Ras/Pool/Files/Reuters