Oscar expected to fight to get out of jail
Oscar Pistorius's family and his legal team are expected to fight the minister's decision to delay his release on parole.
Oscar Pistorius’ family is expected to fight Minister Michael Masutha’s decision to refer his parole for review.
The Blade Runner, convicted on a culpable homicide charge in the death of his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day in 2013, was expected to be paroled tomorrow and Masutha’s referral means that that will now be delayed for an unknown length of time.
The minister of justice and correctional services made the announcement on Thursday.
Beeld reported on Thursday, that the family was expected to file an urgent court motion for Masutha’s referral to be set aside which would effect the Parole Board June 5 decision to release Pistorius.
The paper said the family’s challenge was expected after the weekend.
The Star expected the application before Friday.
A panel of three judges will now decide if the Parole Board’s decision was legitimate.
On 17 August, Masutha was petitioned against Pistorius’ release by the Progressive Women’s Movement of SA (PWMSA). PWMSA asked Masutha not to approve his release, claiming the Parole Board was “insensitive to release the offender during Women’s month”.
Announcing his decision to refer the Board’s decision, Masutha said: “It was evident that the decision made on 5 June to release him [Pistorius] on 21 August was made prematurely as Pistorius was not yet eligible to be considered for parole at all. He had only served over six months and not 10 months of his sentence as prescribed by law.”
Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June said they were surprised but indifferent to Masutha’s announcement. Instead, they spent 19 August celebrating Reeva’s birthday, at a ceremony on Port Elizabeth’s Summerstrand beach.
Their lawyer, Tania Koen, said: “They do not have any feelings of revenge towards him, but they just feel that for somebody that committed a crime such as this, taking someone’s life, 10 months is not enough. They are not happy about the decision. Nonetheless their focus is on their daughter, not Pistorius.”
The review automatically suspends the Parole Board’s decision.
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