Oscar Pistorius Parole? South African Paralympian To Remain In Jail Following Hearing

Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympian who was sentenced to six years in prison for the killing of his girlfriend in 2013, will remain behind bars in Pretoria after a parole board in South Africa postponed a decision Monday on whether he should be released on house arrest, the Guardian reported. The parole review board referred the matter of Pistorius’ parole back to a lower parole board, the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board, according to a report from CNN.

"The decision ... is to refer the [matter] back to the parole board because they believe the decision [to possibly let him out of jail] was made prematurely," Pistorius’ attorney Brian Webber told CNN.

South Africa allows for some prisoners to be released under house arrest after fulfilling one-sixth of their sentence, and Pistorius was eligible to be transferred out of prison in August, CNN reported.

It is unknown when his case will be heard again, the BBC reported, as it will be in a long line of other parole hearings on a list to be heard. Pistorius, who had both of his legs amputated before he was one year old, has competed in Paralympic games as well as the Olympics in 2012.

Pistorius was charged with the premediated murder of his girlfriend, South African model Reeva Steenkamp, who was found fatally shot in February 2013. Pistorius admitted that he did fire the shots that killed Steenkamp, but also said that he thought he was firing the shots at a home invader through a bathroom door.

A judge acquitted Pistorius of murder, but found negligent in his girlfriend’s death. Prosecutors have said the judge did not apply the law correctly in his ruling on Pistorius, and they are trying to appeal the judge’s decision. The next hearing for Pistorius is scheduled for Nov. 3.