Pistorius' early release from prison delayed

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Oscar Pistorius' planned release from prison has been postponed from Friday, the South African government said as it is calling for a review of his case.

Pistorius, 28, was scheduled to leave prison for house arrest after serving 10 months of a five-year sentence, but the Justice Ministry announced his release would be delayed, pending another review by the national parole board. Urged by South African women's groups to halt the transfer to house arrest – Pistorius was to have spent the rest of his term in his uncle's home in an affluent Pretoria suburb – Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha ordered the review because the parole ruling may have come too early.

A transfer to house arrest is typical after one-sixth of a sentence is served in prison, due to overcrowding in South Africa's jails, but Masutha said consideration of Pistorius' case, and not transfer to house arrest, should begin Friday, 10 months to the day of his entry into prison.

"It is apparent therefore that the decision to release him on 21 August 2015 was made prematurely on 5 June 2015 when the offender was not eligible to be considered at all," a statement from Masutha's office said.

The Olympic and Paralympic sprinter and double amputee, regarded as a hero in South Africa, was convicted of culpable homicide, the equivalent of manslaughter, for the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.