Pistorius to leave jail within days

OSCAR Pistorius will be released from prison on Tuesday and kept under house arrest, South Africa’s parole board says.

The shamed Paralympic athlete has served just 12 months of his five-year sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He was found guilty of culpable homicide — a charge equivalent to manslaughter — after saying he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door because he mistook her for an intruder.

Pistorius, 28, faces a further test on November 3 when prosecutors appeal to South Africa’s supreme court for a murder conviction and a harsher sentence.

Steenkamp’s parents say Pistorius killed their daughter on purpose and have contested any parole.

Oscar Pistorius to be freed from prison OLYMPIC athlete - jailed for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - is set to be released under house arrest 

 

Reeva and Pistorius in 2013 Getty

Tania Koen, the Steenkamp family’s lawyer, said: “They are not surprised at all — it was expected.

“But it doesn’t change anything in their lives. Their daughter is still not coming back.

“Whether Pistorius is incarcerated or released on parole, their daughter is still gone.”

After meeting last week, the parole board said it wanted to consult with Steenkamp’s family over Pistorius’s possible release.

Pistorius is set to be released from prison AP

An official statement from the department of correctional services said the parole board “approved the placement of offender Oscar Pistorius under correctional supervision as from 20 October 2015.

“The parole board considered all submissions, including the offender’s profile report, the directives of the Parole Review Board and the submission of the victim’s family.”

Blade Runner PA

It gave no details about Pistorius parole conditions except that they included “continued psychotherapy” and firearms restrictions.

Pistorius may have to wear a tracking tag and report regularly to a local police station.

Pistorius’s family had accused officials of bowing to “political and media hype” in denying him parole.

Brian Webber, a lawyer representing Pistorius, said: “I do think correctional services have probably considered how unfairly he has been treated. He should have been released on August 21.”