Because of the review, it is unlikely that Pistorius will be released to house arrest on Friday, Justice Ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said.
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South Africa’s justice minister on Wednesday ordered a review of Oscar Pistorius’ pending parole, meaning the former Olympian probably won’t be granted a transfer from prison to house arrest this week as had been expected.
After receiving a request for release from the prisoner himself or his lawyers or family, the parole board solicits reports from prison psychologists, social workers and wardens on his behaviour in prison.
Pistorius testified that he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for a risky intruder hiding in his bathroom. Sibomana also said that being imprisoned can have a very serious impact in the South African runner’s life.
If released some suggest it sends the wrong message to others since Oscar Pistorius is considered a role model.
He began serving his five-year sentence in October 2014 and will have served a sixth of it by August 21.
On Tuesday, Mr Masutha said he was seeking legal advice on whether the parole board was right to release Pistorius on house arrest.
Earlier this week, prosecutors filed the written arguments for their appeal against his murder acquittal. “And therefore the correctional supervision and parole board approved the placement of the offender into the system of community corrections with effect on the 21st of August 2015”.
“The only conceivable finding… should be that he intended to kill the person in the cubicle”, they say, adding that Pistorius’ evidence “can never be found to be reasonably possible”.
Pistorius was acquitted of murder for shooting Steenkamp and convicted instead of culpable homicide, which is an unintentional but still unlawful killing comparable to manslaughter.
Oscar Pistorius will NOT be freed from jail on Friday, it was announced today. If the panel finds Pistorius guilty on appeal, he will face a minimum sentence of 15 years in jail.
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His team say the appeal is based only on a legal issue and nothing to do with the State’s initial version that he wanted to kill Reeva and that he has an uncontrollable temper. He had both his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday due to a congenital condition and was initially banned because of his carbon fiber blades, which some critics said gave him an unfair advantage.
