Oscar Pistorius to be released on house arrest

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius is set to be released on house arrest on August 21 after serving 10 months of his five-year prison sentence.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide in October of 2014 for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria, South Africa home. The 28-year-old athlete fired his pistol through a locked bathroom door, killing Steenkamp on the other side. Pistorius argued he did not know it was Steenkamp on the other side and believed her to be an intruder.

Pistorius is being released on probation for good behaviour by recommendation from the case management committee at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison where he is serving his sentence. In South Africa, inmates in many cases, can be released on correctional supervision after serving one sixth of their sentence. August 21 will mark 10 months of prison for Pistorius, making him eligible.

Culpable homicide in South Africa is similar to manslaughter in Canada, meaning the convicted is responsible for the death despite it being unintentional.

The conditions of the Olympic sprinter’s house arrest will not be made public. He is also currently facing an appeal against the charge of manslaughter. State prosecutors are appealing the ruling, believing he should have been found guilty of murder. If the ruling is overturned he could face a much more severe sentence.

The sprinter made history by becoming the first double-amputee to race in Olympics alongside able-bodied competitors. He raced the 400m at the London Olympics, qualifying for the semi-finals. He was a sports icon in South Africa before killing Steenkamp, a recognizable model in the country.

The original trial made international news.