Former Paralympian Pistorius up for parole hearing; the story so far
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius will get another chance for an early release at a parole hearing on Friday.
The former Paralympic star was convicted in 2014 for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Though Pistorius maintains the incident was purely accidental, his pleas of innocence have not changed public perception since the matter gained global audience in 2013.
He was initially sentenced to a five-year jail term in 2014 for culpable homicide by a high court. However, this ruling was overturned when prosecutors filed a successful appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal in late 2015. He was subsequently found guilty of murder.
Following the appeal, Pistorious was sent back to jail for six years in 2016 after a High Court sentence, which was less than half the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors.
A year later, there was another twist as the Supreme Court reviewed his sentence to 13 years and five months, after determining that the six-year jail term was “shockingly lenient.”
A parole board will now consider Pistorius’ case at a hearing on Friday, where they will decide if he should be released on parole.
“The CSPB (Correctional Supervision and Parole Board) shall … decide whether the inmate is suitable or not for social reintegration,” said Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.
The hearing would take place in the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre near the capital Pretoria.
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