Pistorius' lawyers move to block appeal of verdict, sentence

Published Nov. 18, 2014 1:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius' lawyers have filed court papers opposing prosecutors move to appeal the verdict and sentence in his murder trial.

Pistorius' defense lawyers say that Judge Thokozile Masipa should not refer the Olympic runner's case to South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal because there has been no error in law.

The defense's papers were filed Monday, according to a court stamp.

Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of murder for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door. Instead, she convicted him on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced him to five years in prison.

Pistorius' lawyers say Masipa ''correctly applied'' the law when she acquitted him of murder.

Prosecutors must first ask for Masipa's permission to appeal against the verdict and the sentence she gave Pistorius.