Convicted murderer Oscar Pistrorius has been granted parole by the Department of Correctional Services.
Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the department, said Pistorius’ parole will be effective from January 5 2024.
“The Department of Correctional Services confirms parole placement for Mr Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius effectively from 5 January 2024,” Nxumalo said.
“Mr Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 but the case went through a number of appeals and was eventually ratified to 13 years and five months in 2017.”
Nxumalo said the parole placement decision was taken by the correctional supervision and parole board having assessed Pistorius’ profile and other material submitted for the purposes of parole consideration.
First-time offender
“Classified as a first-time offender with a positive support system, Oscar Pistorius’ parole placement is in line with section 73 of the Correctional Services Act.
“Parole placement forms part of the total rehabilitation programme in correcting offending behaviour and may include continuation of programmes aimed at reintegration whilst in the system of community corrections,” Nxumalo said.
He said Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires.
A double amputee sprinter, Pistorius was convicted of fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door at his home in 2013.
Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar and her by mistake.
2014 murder trial
His trial in 2014 attracted global attention as the details of Steenkamp’s death were beamed across the world.
In March 2023, Pistorius was denied parole at a hearing after a judge ruled that despite expectations that it would be granted, he had not served the minimum time to qualify for parole.
The judge said he would not be considered for parole until August 2024.
Steenkamp’s family members opposed Pistorius’ release and they continues to reject his account of their daughter’s killing.
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