Oscar Pistorius will have another chance at parole on Friday after nearly a decade in prison

Oscar Pistorius is set to have another opportunity for parole following nearly a decade of incarceration. This chance arises after a previous ruling in March, which erroneously deemed him ineligible for early release from prison.

The South African department of corrections, as conveyed in a statement to The Big Big News on Monday, has scheduled a parole board hearing for the former Olympic runner this Friday. During this hearing, the board will deliberate on the suitability of the inmate for social reintegration.

Pistorius, renowned worldwide as a double-amputee athlete who shattered barriers by competing with carbon-fiber running blades at the 2012 London Olympics, has been behind bars since late 2014. His incarceration stems from the tragic shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Initially convicted of culpable homicide, akin to manslaughter, for firing multiple shots through a closed toilet cubicle door on Valentine’s Day 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa, his conviction was later upgraded to murder. Subsequently, he received a sentence of 13 years and five months in prison after a series of legal appeals. Under South African law, serious offenders are required to serve at least half of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Pistorius’ parole eligibility has been further complicated by legal appeals by prosecutors who initially challenged his culpable homicide conviction and later deemed his six-year sentence for murder as excessively lenient. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Pistorius should serve the country’s minimum 15-year sentence for murder, taking into account the time he had already spent incarcerated for culpable homicide. However, an oversight occurred as the court failed to consider another period of Pistorius’ incarceration during his murder sentence appeal, making him eligible for parole in March, contrary to the initial pronouncement that he would only be eligible in August 2024.

Pistorius’ legal team pursued the matter to the Constitutional Court of South Africa. The decision to grant him another parole hearing on Friday effectively acknowledges the error made by the appeal court.

It is important to note that Pistorius is not guaranteed early release. The parole board will meticulously assess various factors, including his behavior and disciplinary record in prison, his mental well-being, and the likelihood of him reoffending. The outcome could range from full parole to day parole, where he would reside and work within the community but return to prison at night.

Once celebrated as one of the world’s most inspirational athletes, Pistorius’ journey took a tragic turn. Born with a congenital condition that led to the amputation of his lower legs as a baby, he overcame adversity to achieve multiple Paralympic titles with his iconic running blades. He holds the distinction of being the only double amputee to compete in the Olympics. Known as the “Blade Runner,” his fall from grace came when he fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, during the aftermath of the London Olympics. During his murder trial, he claimed that he had mistaken her for a dangerous intruder in his bathroom during the late hours of the night, leading to the tragic incident.

As Oscar Pistorius approaches his 37th birthday, the prospect of his potential release marks a significant moment in his tumultuous life, which has largely been obscured from public view over the past decade. His time in prison has been marred by incidents, including injuries sustained in altercations with fellow inmates and disputes over self-inflicted injuries.

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• Oscar Pistorius – Wikipedia
• Oscar Pistorius: From Olympic Glory to Prison
• Oscar Pistorius’ murder sentence increased
• South African parole laws