Pistorius Parole Ruling 'Could Take Months'

A decision over when Paralympian gold medalist Oscar Pistorius could be released from prison may take months, South Africa's justice ministry has said.

Pistorius was due to be released on Friday but justice minister Michael Masutha blocked the move when he decided the date was "premature".

The 28-year-old was jailed last year for five years for the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013.

Under South African law, an offender who has been given a prison sentence of five years or less is eligible to move on to correctional supervision after they have served one-sixth of their sentence - in Pistorius' case, 10 months.

But, Mr Masutha said, the Parole Board's decision taken in May to release him had no legal basis because Pistorius had not at the time served one-sixth of his sentence.

The board now has up to four months to review its decision on when Pistorius can be freed, a justice ministry spokesman said.

"The minister cannot determine how they deal with the review as he merely referred the matter and leaves it to them to deal with it independently."

Pistorius, nicknamed "Blade Runner" because of the artificial legs he used during his career on the track, was found guilty of culpable homicide - equivalent to a charge of manslaughter.

He killed Ms Steenkamp by firing four shots through the locked door of his bathroom.

He said in his defence that he thought a burglar was hiding behind it.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, speaking during sentencing, said the state had not convinced her of Pistorius' intent to kill when he fired the shots.

In November, the Supreme Court is to hear an appeal from prosecutors who are asking judges to overturn the initial verdict and convict Pistorius of murder.

If he were convicted, he would face a minimum sentence of 15 years.