House arrest for 'Blade Gunner'

09 June 2015 - 08:22 By Dominic Skelton and POPPY LOUW

In a little over two months' time convicted killer Oscar Pistorius will walk out of prison, not quite a free man, but no longer behind bars. But his legal troubles are not yet over. Yesterday, the acting national commissioner of correctional services, Zach Modise, said the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board had on Saturday approved the placement of Pistorius under correctional supervision and his release from the Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria on August 21.But judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal are to hear arguments in November on whether he should have been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. If they feel Judge Thokozile Masipa erred in finding him guilty of culpable homicide, the former Paralympian could be behind bars once more.Pistorius, 28, is likely to face many restrictions once released under correctional supervision.Sentencing expert Stephan Terblanche said the conditions for Pistorius's correctional supervision would be strict at first and home detention would be an important part of it."But they might be mean and say that he can't train for five years. He would not have much of a choice in the matter," he said.Project coordinator of the Civil Society Prison Forum Initiative, Lukas Muntingh, thought it was likely Pistorius would be able to resume training if he behaved well.In terms of the Correctional Services Act, possible conditions of correctional supervision are:House detention;Community service;Seeking employment and keeping it where possible;Participation in treatment, development and support programmes;Refraining from using alcohol and drugs;Refraining from contacting specific people; andLiving at a fixed address.Correctional Services Department spokesman Manelisi Wolela said the restrictions might be relaxed over time depending on good behaviour.Explaining the board's decision, Wolela said the input of the Steenkamp family had been considered.In a letter to the board, June and Barry Steenkamp expressed their forgiveness of Pistorius, but said his time in jail was too short."Our lives will never be the same as we live with the sadness of her death every day . [But] we do not seek to avenge her death and we do not want Mr Pistorius to suffer; that will not bring her back to us."But, the Steenkamps added, people found guilty of a crime had to be held accountable for their actions. They said they feared Pistorius's release would not send out the "proper message and serve as the deterrent" it should."Statistics show that our society is under continuous attack from criminals and murderers. Incarceration of 10 months for taking a life is simply not enough," the letter said.The Steenkamps were reported to be shocked by the parole decision.Pistorius was convicted in the Pretoria High Court in September for shooting and killing Steenkamp by firing several shots through a locked toilet door at his home.In December, Masipa gave the prosecution permission to ask the Supreme Court of Appeal to consider whether she had applied the law correctly in finding Pistorius not guilty of murder.Supreme Court of Appeal registrar Paul Myburgh confirmed that the court would hear the case in the fourth term, which starts at the beginning of November. An exact date has not been set.Masipa sentenced Pistorius under a specific provision that allowed him to apply to have his five-year prison term converted to correctional supervision outside prison after he had served one-sixth of the total sentence - in his case 10 months.An inmate awaiting sentencing said he found the parole board decision unfair: "Eish, you know justice favours the upper class as long as you are somebody - money talks. It's painful how the justice system treats us."Twitter comments included that from @IvorSwartz: " #OscarPistorius will be out by August, for murder. I did 5yrs straight as a minor, for robbery. I'm trying to stay positive for this country." - Additional reporting ©The Daily Telegraph and Katharine Child..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.