Pistorius Recommended to Undergo Psychotherapy As Early Release Is Blocked

The independent review board also said Pistorius should be “subjected to psychotherapy” as part of his parole conditions, even if it’s decided that he can be released early, the corrections department said in a statement.

The parole board further said that an earlier decision of allowing Pistorious out-on-house arrest was premature, adding that the case should be reconsidered.

In an addition to recommending psychotherapy, which Pistorius does not have to complete before a new decision can be taken, the judges also recommended the parole board consider firearm restrictions against the runner should he be released. Prosecutors will seek to convict the Olympic sprinter for murder with an appeal to South Africa’s Supreme Court on November 3. He said he thought an intruder was hiding in the cubicle.

In a trial that made headlines around the world, the Paralympian was jailed previous year for killing his girlfriend, model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Pistorius was given an additional three-year sentence, suspended for five years, for firing a gun in a restaurant.

His friend Mike Azzie, who has known Pistorius since he was a boy, has reportedly been visiting the athlete behind bars at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.

Mr Webber explained that the parole review board made a decision to refer the matter back to the original parole panel – the body accused by Mr Masutha of “prematurely” wanting to release him in August.

In a fairly common procedure in South Africa for offenders sentenced to five years or less, he would have been moved from jail after one-sixth of the sentence to serve the remainder under correctional supervision at home. “Why?” Reeva’s mother June Steenkamp asked in the interview.