South African paralympic athlete, Oscar Pistorius, may be released from jail 10 months after being sentenced to five years in prison for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Prison officials on Monday recommended that Pistorius be released from prison on August 21, 2015, for good behaviour after serving just 10 months and be moved to house arrest.
Zach Modise, South African commissioner of correctional services, confirmed this to BBC, adding that the parole board will decide whether to free the double-amputee athlete following the prison department’s recommendation.
He was sentenced to five years in jail after he shot and killed Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, claiming he thought she was an intruder; he was convicted on culpable homicide charges but cleared of murder and was taken to Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.
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Prosecutors applied to the sentencing judge for permission to appeal the verdict, calling the five-year prison term “shockingly light, inappropriate and would not have been imposed by any reasonable court”.
If the parole board consents, the 28-year-old will be released from Kgosi Mampuru prison on probation.
Pistorious began dating the Steenkamp, a model, in November 2012. But less than four months after they started their relationship, Pistorius fatally shot her dead.
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However, Tania Koen, a lawyer for Ms Steenkamp’s parents Barry and June, said that while the two had forgiven Pistorius, “10 months is not enough”.
“It also doesn’t send out the proper message and serve as the proper deterrent as the way it should.”
The athlete murder acquittal is yet to be appealed, but South African Authorities have until August 17 to appeal the judge’s decision.
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