Oscar Pistorius' conviction for killing his girlfriend has been changed from manslaughter to murder.

An appeal court in South Africa decided the original verdict was "flawed" and the athlete will now be re-sentenced by the original court.

A murder conviction carries a much heftier sentence: a minimum of 15 years in jail in South Africa.

Judge said he would have known that firing into the toilet cubicle would have led to death - but went ahead anyway.

Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June, closed her eyes as the decision was read out in the Bloemfontein court.

The athlete is currently under house arrest at his uncle's luxurious home in Pretoria after serving less than a year for killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013.

(Sky News)