Blade runner Oscar Pistorius is unlikely to serve the full five-year jail term, legal experts said.
In terms of current legislation which places strong emphasis on the rehabilitation of offenders, Pistorius could be out of prison in ten months’ time, according to some criminal law analysts.
“Five years in terms of [Section] 276 of the Criminal Procedure Act means the accused serves one-sixth of the sentence, which is 10 months,” justice department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said on his Facebook wall.
“And an offender or inmate can be considered for placement under correctional supervision which is processed by correctional services,” Mhaga said.
At a media briefing afterwards, Pistorius’ uncle Arnold Pistorius hinted that there would not be an appeal against the judgement.
“It has been a harrowing 20 months. We are all emotionally drained and exhausted,” Arnold said. “We accept the judgement. Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society.”
“I appeal to all of you as the media to accept the ruling of the court. Give us some degree of dignity and privacy. I hope Oscar will start his own healing process as he walks down the path of restoration,” he added.