The South African correctional board has confirmed that paralympian Oscar Pistorius, sentenced to five-year imprisonment for shooting dead his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may well be able to walk free by 21 August.
Correctional Services acting national commissioner Zach Modise told South African News Broadcaster eNCA that the parole board met Oscar Pistorius last week and has recommended for his release on probation on 21 August. He will be under house arrest and will have to be wear an ankle.
It is reported that the Oscar Pistorius case management committee made its recommendation based on his conduct and behaviour in prison. The committee, however, before making a consideration may also consult the family of Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African blade runner currently has served ten months in Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria on culpable homicide charges.
eNCA's legal journalist Karyn Maughan, who broke the story on Twitter, noted that five judges will hear Oscar Pistorius' appeal. "Normally it's three in criminal appeals," Maughan tweeted.
A South African court had sentenced Pistorius to five-year imprisonment in October last year for shooting dead his 29-year-old girlfriend through a locked lavatory door at his home in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013.
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has set November for prosecutors to appeal for Oscar Pistorius' acquittal on the murder charge, three months after he walks out on parole.
At present, Pistorius is being kept under observation in the hospital wing of the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria.
Twitter Reactions
ThembaP @thembaphahle1
Ehbaan #OscarPistorius shot & killed someone then on a 10 month holiday in Jail...Moërskont. Zaka ya bolela mo lefaseng
Barry Bateman @barrybateman
#OscarPistorius Reeva Steenkamp's family is "shocked" by recommendation that her killer be released as early as August. BB
katlego®ThaCarter5™ @MissDwayneson
"@JacaNews: Correctional Services' @ZachModise says parole board received recommendation that #OscarPistorius be released Aug 21"
Kagišo @_ThePiglet_
House arrest in a mansion with all sorts of amenities. Nice.
#OscarPistorius
#Vusimuzi_Ntombela @CallMeVoto
@SA_Heroes Our correctional service is bloody useless. #OscarPistorius didn't spend a year in jail but now they've guts to give me a parole.
That Guy Kagiso @KagisoJeff
#OscarPistorius case a good example of how having money means almost everything, 10 months that is all it takes
