Oscar Pistorius is to be freed from prison and placed under house arrest next week, having served one year of his five-year jail term for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
In a statement released by the South African parole board, Pistorius will be approved placement under correctional supervision for four years starting October 20.
“The parole board considered all submissions, including the offender’s profile report, the directives of the Parole Review Board and the submission of the victim’s family,” the statement said.
Ms Steenkamp’s parents believe Pistorius killed their daughter on purpose, and said he should have been convicted of murder instead.
Tania Koen, a lawyer representing Ms Steenkamp’s family, said the family “are not surprised at all by this announcement”, and were expecting the decision.
“It doesn’t change anything in their lives. Their daughter is still not coming back. Whether Pistorius is incarcerated or released on parole, their daughter is still gone,” she said.
Brian Webber, a lawyer representing Pistorius, said his client qualified for house arrest.
“I do think correctional services have probably considered how unfairly he has been treated. He should have been released on August 21,” he said.
South Africa’s Correctional Services Act allows convicted criminals to spend time under house arrest so long as they have served at least one-sixth of their sentence in prison.
Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner”, made headlines around the world when he shot and killed his model girlfriend because he mistook her for an intruder.
The double-amputee became the first Paralympic athlete to participate at the Olympic Games when he competed in London in 2012. – Josh Chahal
Top photo of Oscar Pistorius facing court from BBC News coverage.
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