Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympian, may be placed on parole in August after serving 10 months of a five-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Authorities told Reuters the athlete will be released on parole August 21 after being convicted in October following a seven-month-long trial.
A decision by the parole board is
yet to be released, however, according to Fox News.
The announcement follows news that the state won an appeal of the case, hoping to gain a murder conviction instead of a
culpable homicide sentence, The Guardian reported. The case is scheduled to be heard in November.
According to Reuters, the news does not come as a surprise since South African sentencing guidelines indicate non-dangerous prisoners should spend one-sixth of the suggested sentence in prison.
Pistorius had both of his lower legs amputated as a baby, giving him the nickname of “Blade Runner.”
Acting National Commissioner of Correctional Services Zach Modise said in a statement that a prison committee recommended Pistorius’ release due to the athlete’s good behavior, Fox reported.
Steenkamp’s family was invited and participated in the
board’s discussions, according to NBC News.
The remainder of his sentence would be served under a form of house arrest called “correctional supervision,” a prison service statement read, according to Reuters.
Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela told Fox the conditions of the house arrest will not be made public.
Steenkamp, 29, died on Valentine’s Day in 2013 when Pistorius shot her through a locked door at his home in the capital of Pretoria.
The runner argued he fired the gun mistakenly, believing the model and law graduate was an intruder hiding behind the door.
If convicted of murder in the appeal case, Pistorius could face at least 15 years in prison.
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