The South African state’s appeal to have Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder instead of culpable homicide will be heard on November 3, officials said Tuesday, as the Paralympian waits to be released on parole. The judges could either reject the prosecution’s appeal, order a retrial or convict Pistorius of murder themselves, legal experts say.

In a statement sent out by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Paul Myburgh, media houses were warned they will not be allowed to cover the trial “without prior approval”.

Pistorius was found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home in 2013.

On October 21, Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for killing Steenkamp, and to three years – suspended for five – for discharging a firearm in a restaurant. A murder conviction in South Africa carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in jail.

Last month, Pistorius was set to be released on correctional supervision, but at the last minute Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha decided to suspend the decision.

Masutha referred the case to a parole review board, which is expected to hold a hearing next month.