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Oscar Pistorius, who turned 31 behind bars this week, could potentially be out of jail for his 40th birthday if he is granted parole, but Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says it’s not a given that will happen.

\"PHOTO:
AP Photo
PHOTO: In this Nov. 4, 2012 file photo, South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp arrive for an awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.
>

“We will have to look at court papers and only once he has served the minimum of the total sentence, will he be considered [for parole],” Nxumalo said.

The disgraced athlete was originally convicted of culpable homicide -- similar to the U.S. judicial definition of manslaughter -- in the Pretoria High Court in 2014. However, the SCA upgraded his conviction to murder after the NPA appealed.

The matter was referred back to the court in Pretoria, which sentenced him to six years for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. The NPA again turned to the Appeals Court, saying the sentence was \"shockingly inappropriate.\"

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