Pistorius 'To Be Freed From Jail In August'

The Paralympic and Olympic athlete, who fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door with expanding hollow-point bullets, was handed a five-year jail sentence in October.

But a relative, who did not want to be named, said: "Oscar will be released on parole by the end of August."

It comes as South African prosecutors prepare their bid to get the severity of his jail term and conviction increased at the November hearing, according to a Supreme Court official.

"A specific date has not been set yet, but we can confirm that the appeal will happen in November this year," the official told AFP.
State prosecutors were granted permission to appeal against the verdict, arguing Judge Thokozile Masipa misinterpreted the law when she ruled Pistorius did not intentionally kill Steenkamp.

Pistorius's legal team unsuccessfully tried to stop the appeal, saying the conviction was based on facts presented during the trial and therefore could not be challenged.

The state argued he deliberately killed the 29-year-old law graduate and reality television star after an argument.
If an appeals court finds him guilty of murder, the athlete - known as the Blade Runner for the prosthetic legs he wears on the track - could face at least 15 years in jail.

Pistorius, the first double-amputee athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in London in 2012, was jailed after months-long trial that made headlines across the world.