South African prosecutors are to appeal the verdict and sentence in the trial of athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the Associated Press is reporting.
On Monday, prosecution spokesman Nathi Mncube said that the next step is to file papers in court.
Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door on Valentine's Day 2013, and was found guilty of culpable homicide after Judge Thokozile Masipa rejected murder charges against the athlete.
He started his prison sentence on Oct. 21, but could face just 10 months in jail.
A reporter for South Africa's Eyewitness News who followed the trial said that South Africa's National Prosecution Authority now must ask Judge Masipa for "leave to appeal."
To explain the process now - NPA will have to go back to Judge Masipa and ask her for 'leave to appeal' against her judgment and sentence.
Masipa must then decide if another judge could possibly come to a conclusion different to the one that she reached in the case.
If Judge Masipa turns down the request, the NPA can then petition South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal.
If Masipa grants leave then the appeal will be heard. If she turns it down then NPA can petition Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.