Board again rejects Oscar Pistorius’ parole request; recommends psychotherapy for athlete

Convicted South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to undergo psychotherapy by a judge-led panel which upheld a decision taken in August to block his release from prison.

The treatment should focus on the factors leading to the crime that he committed, an official statement said.

It would be recalled that Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in 2013, saying he mistook her for a burglar.

He was convicted of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, last year.

The 28-year-old double amputee had hoped to be released in August after a parole board ruled that he could serve the rest of his five-year prison sentence under house arrest.

However, Justice Minister Michael Masutha prevented the release, saying the decision had been taken prematurely.

At the time of his intervention, Pistorius had been granted parole only six months into his five-year sentence.

Mr Masutha argued that the law states that an offender can only be considered for parole after serving one-sixth of his sentence, in this case 10 months.

On Monday, a panel, led by Judge Lucy Mailula, ruled that Mr Masutha had acted correctly.

It said the parole board should again consider Pistorius’ request to be placed under house arrest, or correctional supervision.

The panel ruled that psychotherapy should be given “even if the offender is, indeed placed under correctional supervision”, the prisons department said in a statement.

The offender should “be subjected to psychotherapy in order to address criminogenic factors of the crime he committed,” it said.

It also ruled that the parole board should consider imposing conditions restricting the use of firearms by the athlete, the statement added.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Reeva Steenkamp’s family are vehemently opposed to any early release for Pistorius

Ms Steenkamp was killed after he fired multiple shots though a locked door on Valentine’s Day 2013.

High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted him of murder last year, saying there was insufficient proof to convict him.

The prosecution has appealed against the acquittal and the case will be heard next month by some of South Africa’s most senior judges.

Pistorius was born without the fibulas in both of his legs, and had surgery to amputate both below the knee while still a baby.

He went on to become one of South Africa’s best-known sports stars, and was the first amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.