Oscar Pistorius was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. (File)

Johannesburg, South Africa:

South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius may be launched from jail this week, a decade after he killed his girlfriend in a criminal offense that gripped the world.

A parole board is to determine whether or not Pistorius needs to be let loose early, after a listening to in Pretoria on Friday.

“The board must determine whether the purpose of imprisonment has been served,” stated Department of Correctional Services’ spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo.

Pistorius, who’s now 36, shot lifeless Reeva Steenkamp, a mannequin, within the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013, when he fired 4 instances by means of the lavatory door of his ultra-secure Pretoria home.

He pleaded not responsible and denied that he killed Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.

Known worldwide because the “Blade Runner” due to his carbon-fibre prosthetics, he was sentenced to 13 years behind bars.

Offenders in South Africa are routinely eligible for parole consideration after serving half of their sentence.

Pistorius has served greater than half, having began his time period in 2014.

Decision Time

As a part of his rehabilitation, Pistorius met Steenkamp’s mother and father June and Barry final yr, in a course of authorities stated goals to make sure inmates “acknowledge the harm they have caused to their victims and the society at large”.

Reeva’s mom June will attend the listening to to “make representations to the parole board” which is able to embody each mother and father’ sufferer impression statements, stated Tania Koen, a lawyer representing the Steenkamps.

June’s husband Barry is unable to journey attributable to ailing well being, Koen added.

Koen stated she was not at liberty to debate the Steenkamps’ place on a potential launch of their daughter’s killer.

“They are going to make their submissions. And then obviously, the law will take its course,” she stated.

The board, usually made up of correctional companies and group members, will contemplate whether or not an inmate has been rehabilitated or nonetheless poses a hazard to society, stated Kelly Phelps, a legislation professor on the University of Cape Town.

This will take note of the seriousness of the offence in addition to Pistorius’ behaviour behind bars, together with whether or not he attended instructional and life expertise packages.

Possible Conditions

Release on parole normally comes with some circumstances, reminiscent of monitoring from authorities and obligation to report back to a group correction centre.

“It’s very common to have things like alcohol restrictions, restrictions on your ability to own firearms… and to require participation in counselling,” stated Phelps.

Day parole, the place the inmate returns to jail at evening, and group service are additionally on the playing cards, stated Nxumalo of the correctional companies.

A yr earlier than killing Steenkamp, Pistorius grew to become the primary double amputee to race on the Olympics on the London 2012 video games.

He then was a sporting icon admired worldwide and courted by sponsors.

But his achievements got here crashing down after the killing, along with his character and previous intently scrutinised in a trial that made headlines world wide.

He was initially sentenced to 6 years in jail however the time period was later lengthened to 13 after the state appealed that it was unduly lenient.

Parole choices are normally recognized the identical day of the listening to or a day later, however Nxumalo hinted that in Pistorius’s case “the decision may not be taken on the same”.

If denied, the offender has the appropriate to strategy the courts for overview.

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