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

Johannesburg, South Africa:

South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is likely to 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 must be let loose early, after a listening to in Pretoria on Friday.

“The board should decide whether or not the aim of imprisonment has been served,” mentioned Division of Correctional Companies’ spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo.

Pistorius, who’s now 36, shot useless 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.

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

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

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

Resolution Time

As a part of his rehabilitation, Pistorius met Steenkamp’s mother and father June and Barry final 12 months, in a course of authorities mentioned goals to make sure inmates “acknowledge the hurt they’ve triggered to their victims and the society at massive”.

Reeva’s mom June will attend the listening to to “make representations to the parole board” which can embrace each mother and father’ sufferer influence statements, mentioned Tania Koen, a lawyer representing the Steenkamps.

June’s husband Barry is unable to journey as a consequence of sick well being, Koen added.

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

“They will make their submissions. After which clearly, the legislation will take its course,” she mentioned.

The board, usually made up of correctional providers and group members, will think about whether or not an inmate has been rehabilitated or nonetheless poses a hazard to society, mentioned Kelly Phelps, a legislation professor on the College of Cape City.

This may take into consideration the seriousness of the offence in addition to Pistorius’ behaviour behind bars, together with whether or not he attended academic and life expertise applications.

Potential Circumstances

Launch on parole normally comes with some situations, equivalent to monitoring from authorities and responsibility to report back to a group correction centre.

“It is quite common to have issues like alcohol restrictions, restrictions in your capacity to personal firearms… and to require participation in counselling,” mentioned Phelps.

Day parole, the place the inmate returns to jail at night time, and group service are additionally on the playing cards, mentioned Nxumalo of the correctional providers.

A 12 months 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.

However his achievements got here crashing down after the killing, together with his character and previous carefully scrutinised in a trial that made headlines all over the world.

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 choice is probably not taken on the identical”.

If denied, the offender has the suitable to method the courts for assessment.

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