Oscar Pistorius Will Leave Prison Next Week

(ATR) Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius will be released from a South African prison next week after serving only 10 months of a five-year sentence.

South Africa's Department of Correctional Services tells CNN that the parole board has recommended the release of the 28-year-old double amputee on August 21.

Zach Modise, the prison service national commissioner, tells Yahoo News thatPistorius is apparently being released early because he is "behaving himself well."

In spite of his early release, Pistorius could return to prison as prosecutors prepare to argue that his conviction be upgraded to murder in November.

If prosecutors succeed, the Olympian will face a minimum term of 15 years in prison.

Last December, the judge in the Olympian's trial ruled that prosecutors could appeal his acquittal on premeditated murder charges.

Prosecutors say the judge misinterpreted the law in her dismissal of the premeditated murder charge, citing a section of South African law called dolus eventualis.

Pistorius was ordered to serve at least one-sixth of his sentence - 10 months - before being released under "correctional supervision."

The Paralympian was convicted in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide on October 21 of last year.

Steenkamp's parents wrote a letter to the parole board, requesting that their daughter's killer should serve more than 10 months.

"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," Barry and June Steenkamp wrote.

"However, a person found guilty of a crime must be held accountable for their actions."

They added, "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.

"We fear that this will not send out the proper message and serve as the deterrent as it should."

Written byNicole Bennett

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