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Oscar Pistorius must undergo psychotherapy, parole board rules Oscar Pistorius must undergo psychotherapy, parole review board rules
(35 minutes later)
South Africa’s parole review board has ordered that Oscar Pistorius must undergo psychotherapy as it blocked the athlete’s release from prison just 10 months into a five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend. South Africa’s parole review board has ordered that Oscar Pistorius must undergo psychotherapy, as it blocked the athlete’s release from prison 10 months into a five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend.
The review panel ruled on Monday that an earlier decision by the parole board to allow the 28-year-old athlete out on house arrest was “premature” and referred the case back for reconsideration.The review panel ruled on Monday that an earlier decision by the parole board to allow the 28-year-old athlete out on house arrest was “premature” and referred the case back for reconsideration.
“The PRB (parole review board) also directed that the offender be subjected to psychotherapy in order to address criminogenic factors of the crime he committed,” the review board said in a statement. “The PRB [parole review board] also directed that the offender be subjected to psychotherapy in order to address criminogenic factors of the crime he committed,” the review board said in a statement.
Related: How Oscar Pistorius's release from prison was blockedRelated: How Oscar Pistorius's release from prison was blocked
Pistorius was sentenced last year to five years’ in prison for killing the law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013. Pistorius was sentenced last year to five years in prison for killing the law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013. He was found guilty of culpable homicide – a charge equivalent to manslaughter – after saying during the trial that he shot his girlfriend through a locked bathroom door because he mistook her for an intruder.
He was found guilty of culpable homicide – a charge equivalent to manslaughter – after saying during the trial that he shot his girlfriend through a locked bathroom door because he mistook her for an intruder.
The delay in his release means Pistorius is likely to still be behind bars on 3 November, when prosecutors appeal to South Africa’s supreme court for a murder conviction and a harsher sentence.The delay in his release means Pistorius is likely to still be behind bars on 3 November, when prosecutors appeal to South Africa’s supreme court for a murder conviction and a harsher sentence.
Pistorius was due to leave prison in August until the justice minister, Michael Masutha, made a last-minute intervention and the case was referred to the review panel. Pistorius was due to leave prison in August until the justice minister, Michael Masutha, made a last-minute intervention and the case was referred to the review panel. Masutha said the parole board had made a mistake when they approved Pistorius for early release.
Masutha said the parole board had made a mistake when they approved Pistorius for early release.
The intervention was widely criticised by legal experts, but on Monday the judges sitting on the parole review board agreed with Masutha’s argument that the decision to release the athlete was made prematurely.The intervention was widely criticised by legal experts, but on Monday the judges sitting on the parole review board agreed with Masutha’s argument that the decision to release the athlete was made prematurely.
Related: South African minister seeks legal advice over Oscar Pistorius releaseRelated: South African minister seeks legal advice over Oscar Pistorius release
In an addition to recommending psychotherapy, which Pistorius does not have to complete before a new decision can be taken, the judges also recommended the parole board consider firearms restrictions against the runner should he be released.In an addition to recommending psychotherapy, which Pistorius does not have to complete before a new decision can be taken, the judges also recommended the parole board consider firearms restrictions against the runner should he be released.
In an interview with local television channel eNCA on Tuesday, Masutha insisted Pistorius had been treated fairly despite his intervention.In an interview with local television channel eNCA on Tuesday, Masutha insisted Pistorius had been treated fairly despite his intervention.
“As long as the law prescribes a matter should be dealt with in a particular way, fairness in justice simply means upholding the rule of law and in this instance, that’s what the law required and that’s the way the matter had to be dealt with,” he said.“As long as the law prescribes a matter should be dealt with in a particular way, fairness in justice simply means upholding the rule of law and in this instance, that’s what the law required and that’s the way the matter had to be dealt with,” he said.
The Pistorius’s family said the decision “flies in the face of administrative justice” in a statement released on Monday.
“This experience leaves us with the uncomfortable conclusion that the public, political and media hype that was allowed to develop around Oscar’s trial has undermined his right to be treated like any other prisoner.”