A South African court has dismissed an appeal to increase Oscar Pistorius’ six-year murder sentence by state prosecutors.<br /><br /> The Olympic athlete was not in court to hear the judge rule that the request had no reasonable prospects of success on appeal.<br /><br /> Women’s rights groups have argued that Pistorius has received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or celebrity status in a country beset by high levels of violent crime.<br /><br /> The athlete – a multiple Paralympian gold medallist – was sentenced to six years’ jail in July for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.<br /><br /> The prosecution said the decision was too lenient; the defence argued the state was prejudiced.<br /><br /> An original conviction for manslaughter had been increased to murder earlier.<br /><br /> The prosecutor has said Pistorius had not shown any remorse and had yet to explain why he fired the fatal shots through a bathroom door.<br /><br /> He argued he believed an intruder was hiding behind it.<br />
