Sports Briefs
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THE initial plan by the South African authorities to release Oscar Pistorius, paralympian, from prison on Friday, August 21, was aborted on Wednesday, August 19, by the ministry of justice, saying it was premature. Pistorious is serving a five-year prison term for killing his girlfriend, was aborted on Wednesday, August 19.
Michael Masutha, justice minister, said in a statement that a June decision to release him on Friday — after he had served just one-sixth of his sentence — had “no legal basis” and would be suspended pending a parole board review.
“It is apparent… that the decision to release him on 21 August 2015 was made prematurely on 5 June, 2015, when the offender was not eligible to be considered at all,” the statement said.
The decision to free the 28-year-old had angered the family of Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend, who was killed by Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
He was convicted in October of culpable homicide, effectively manslaughter, after a high-profile trial. The prosecution has, however, appealed the verdict, seeking a murder conviction instead.
The athlete nicknamed “Blade Runner” had served just eight months instead of 10 months when the decision was made to let him serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.
“The consequence of this decision is that the earlier decision of the (parole board) to place the offender under correctional supervision is suspended until the Parole Review Board has decided on the matter,” the ministry statement said.
— Aug 31, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
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