Pistorius parole hearing to proceed

Pistorius parole hearing to proceed
Oscar Pistorius sentenced an effective six years imprisonment

The parole board was expected to make a decision on whether to give Oscar Pistorius an early release from prison, AFP and eNCA reported on Monday.

“The hearing will go ahead on Monday,” correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela reportedly told AFP.

The parole board met in Durban in September, but postponed the hearing for two weeks.

At the time, the justice department said it did not get a chance to complete Pistorius’s case due to having several matters to review.

According to AFP, Monday’s meeting would take place in Johannesburg.

The Paralympian was jailed last year after he was found guilty of culpable homicide for gunning down his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Pistorius alleged to have mistaken her for an intruder. Pistorius has spent almost a year behind bars.

He was initially expected to be released on August 21 to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

But, two days before that, Justice Minister Michael Masutha announced Pistorius would not be released, saying the parole board had acted prematurely when it decided in June that he could be released in August.

Meanwhile, the double-amputee’s fans were praying for his safe release.

Some of them took to Twitter to wish him well.

On Sunday night, Charity Burt tweeted: “Praying for GREAT news for @OscarPistorius tomorrow. Team Oscar, it’s time SA does the right thing!!!!”

Another fan tweeted: “Prayers for tomorrow !! Lets take hands and carry him in our circle of prayers !! @OscarPistorius #OscarPistorius xx”

Anelize Calitz said: “@OscarPistorius Praying for you! #oscarpistorius #prayerchainforoscar”.

Source: News24

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