Oscar Pistorius’ early release put on hold

Ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga refused to speculate on a possible date for his release, telling the ENCA news channel “it will depend on how and when the review board is going to hear the matter”.

Pistorius is eligible to be transferred from custody to correctional supervision under South African law, although the prospect of his release drew criticism from campaigners. The announcement that Pistorius would only serve 10 months of his sentence led to an worldwide outcry among the public.

Until the decision has been reviewed, the earlier decision – to release Pistorius on August 21 – was suspended, he said.

The group, the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, said earlier this week that it was shocked at the “insensitivity” of the decision to release Mr. Pistorius from prison during Women’s Month. If the court overturns Masipa’s manslaughter verdict and finds Pistorius guilty of murder, he could face a longer sentence and be sent back to prison.

Pistorius may not be released this Friday after 10 months in jail, the judge said, citing confusion over protocol.

Pistorius was expected to go under “house arrest” at his uncle’s home after being freed on Friday.

In blocking Pistorius’ release, the justice department said he was approved for home correctional supervision by parole officials in June, only eight months into his sentence.

Wednesday’s announcement comes on the very day Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, would have celebrated her 32nd birthday.

It is up to that review board to decide whether the parole board’s initial decision, made in June, will still stand.

But, South African prosecutors this week lodged an appeal urging that the athlete be convicted of the more serious crime of murder, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years.

In South Africa, the Oscar Pistorius case was a lot like the O.J. Simpson case was in America twenty years ago.

Pistorius fired four shots at the closed door of his bathroom, instantly killing Steenkamp, whom he says he mistook for an intruder.

Pistorius, 28, landed in prison after an epic trial during which the athlete, who became a national hero when he competed in the London Olympics on specially designed prosthetic leg blades, was yanked from his pedestal.