Oscar Pistorius To Stay In Prison
On Wednesday, Justice Minister Michael Masutha ruled a parole board’s June decision to approve Pistorius for house arrest starting this Friday was made prematurely and “without any legal basis” in a statement.
It was unclear when the board would be able to meet again, justice department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said, but it was unlikely a new decision could be made by Friday’s initially planned release date.
However, he was considered and approved for release to correctional supervision in June, only eight months into his sentence.
The justice minister’s comments follow a petition from the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, who have described the athlete’s early release as “outrageous” and “an insult” to victims of abuse.
If the appeal court finds him guilty of murder, the athlete could face at least 15 years in jail.
On Valentine’s Day, 2013, Oscar Pistorius shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria, South Africa, home.
“He (Masutha) is seeking legal opinion (on) whether he is empowered by law to intervene if necessary”, the department said.
Here are some key questions and answers explaining the release and what will happen to the 28-year-old double-amputee athlete popularly known as the Blade Runner.
Reeva Steenkamp’s parents submitted a letter urging the parole board not to release him early.
Oscar Pistorius will NOT be freed from jail on Friday, it was announced today.
“I came to the conclusion that the board had erred in sitting and considering his application for parole before the minimum period that he is required to serve under the relevant provision had lapsed”, Masutha said on Talk Radio 702. In South Africa, culpable homicide means a person is judged to have killed someone unintentionally but unlawfully.
After his release from prison, Pistorius would serve the rest of his term under house arrest.
They also released a handsome photo of their daughter as a 14-year-old girl to mark her 32nd birthday which would have been yesterday (Weds).
Once a poster boy for sport, Pistorius – whose legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old – has lost his lucrative contracts and has no immediate hope of salvaging his athletic career whatever the outcome of the appeal. At first he will be able to leave the house only for probation-related work or engagements, but as time passes his conditions of confinement will likely be relaxed.
Throughout his trial, Pistorius maintained he shot his lover multiple times through a locked bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder.