Oscar Pistorius to be released next week

South African Paralympic sprinter, Oscar Pistorius is to be freed next week in order to be put under house arrest, a South African parole board has said.

Pistorius received a 5 year prison sentence last year, for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, after claiming that he thought she was an intruder as he shot her through a locked door inside his home on Thursday 14th February 2013.

After just a year of serving his sentence, a statement from South Africa’s department of correctional services said that Pistorius had been a good inmate and therefore is authorized house arrest- a routine procedure in South Africa.

Reeva Steenkamp’s parents have spoken out and said that they believe Pistorius deliberately murdered their daughter and have consistently opposed parole. And although Pistorius is to be released from prison to be put under house arrest, he could be facing a longer, tougher sentence, as prosecutors are set to appeal to South Africa’s supreme court.

The appeal, which is going to take place on November 3rd, will try and see Pistorius serve a longer sentence. Prosecutors will attempt to push for a murder conviction. Which, if they win, could see him face at least 15 years in prison.