Pistorius faces return to jail after South Africa’s highest court dismisses appeal

South Africa’s highest court has dismissed Oscar Pistorius’ appeal of his murder conviction, a lawyer said Thursday, signaling that the former track star’s long legal battle since he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp may be drawing to a close. The ruling by the Constitutional Court clears the way for a judge to sentence the double-amputee runner for murder at a hearing scheduled for April 18.

The court dismissed the application for leave to appeal because there are no prospects of success.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku

Pistorius, who killed Steenkamp in 2013, had appealed to the Constitutional Court, saying another court erred when it overturned a manslaughter conviction and declared the Olympic athlete guilty of murder. Pistorius spent one year of a five-year sentence in jail for the lesser offense. He has since lost his glittering sports career, lucrative contracts and status as a global role model for the disabled. Steenkamp’s family welcomed his murder conviction and described his Constitutional Court appeal as a “delaying tactic” to keep him out of jail.

Pistorius