Oscar Pistorius Granted House Arrest After Spending 12 Months in Jail

Oscar Pistorius will be moved from jail to house arrest on October 20, a South African parole board says.

The Paralympic athlete, who is jailed for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2014 after being found guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter.

Oscar Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door but said he thought she was an intruder.

The prosecution has appealed, saying the double-amputee should instead be convicted of murder.

That case is expected to be heard on November 3.

Oscar Pistorius has spent 12 months in jail and will now spend the rest of his sentence under what is termed in South Africa “correctional supervision”, the parole board said.

An earlier decision to release Oscar Pistorius in August was blocked by South Africa’s Justice Minister Michael Masutha, who said it had been made “prematurely”.

At the time, Reeva Steenkamp’s family had said that 10 months behind bars was “not enough”.

Responding to today’s decision, a lawyer speaking for the Steenkamp family said Reeva’s parents had expected the early release even though they opposed it, adding that nothing could bring back their daughter.

The Pistorius family has said they have received the news of his planned release, but are not making any further comment.

During his house arrest, Oscar Pistorius is likely to face restrictions in terms of gun ownership and may have to continue getting psychotherapy.

Oscar Pistorius, 28, shot to global fame after competing for South Africa at both the Olympics and Paralympics in London in 2012.