Pistorius walking out of jail after just 10 months

After serving just 10 months of a five-year prison sentence Oscar Pistorius will be released from a South African jail next Saturday.

The six-time Paralympic champion was convicted last November for culpable homicide after shooting dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp behind a locked bathroom door in their home.

However, prosecutors are appealing the homicide ruling and are going to the Supreme Court to have the charge upgraded to murder, which carries a minimum 15-year sentence.

Pistorius did not apply for parole himself but in June correctional services recommended he be released as early as possible from Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru II prison, the Independent reported.

"He's behaving himself very well," Correctional Services National Commissioner Zach Modise said.

The conditions under which he will be released have not been revealed to protect his safety but it is suspected Pistorius will live with his uncle in Pretoria.

A return to the Paralympics in Rio next year has been ruled out, while the International Olympic Committee have not commented on whether he could compete at next year's Games.

Steenkamp's parent's June and Barry slammed the decision to release the man responsible for their daughter's death after just 10 months, saying that serving less than one fifth of the sentence sends a bad message.

They said they didn't want Pistorius to suffer but added that "a person found guilty of a crime must be held accountable for their actions."

Pistorius will serve out a three-year suspended sentence, and provided he doesn’t reoffend, would be eligible to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, by which time he will be 33.