According to reports out of South Africa, Pistorius-who claimed he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder before he shot and killed her on Valentine’s Day 2013-is scheduled to be released from prison on Friday.
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Pistorius was handed his sentence last October on a verdict of culpable homicide but prosecutors want the charge, equivalent to manslaughter, upgraded to murder which carries a minimum 15-year prison term.
Oscar Pistorius, the once famous and now infamous athlete, will leave prison at the end of this week.
Prosecutors officially filed heads of argument in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, just days before the athlete is set to be released under correctional supervision. If the conviction is elevated, the runner will be subject to at least 15 years imprisonment, according to the Library of Congress.
Pistorius became an iconic figure during the 2012 Olympics, competing as an amputee in the 400-meter and 4×400-meter races. The worldwide Paralympic Committee has said that he can’t race again until his five-year sentence is fully completed. Pistorius’s defence team has until 17 September to submit its response, with the appeal hearing expected in November. They said Masipa made an error in interpreting the law when she cleared Pistorius of murder and found him guilty instead of an unintentional but still unlawful killing.
“He’s not out on parole on the 21st August, he’s having his sentence converted to a house arrest sentence”, said David Dadic, a criminal lawyer based in Johannesburg. Officials say that he will not have to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Steenkamp’s family has expressed dismay at his imminent release.
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We fear that this will not send out the proper message and serve as the deterrent it should.”
