This was life, with a recommended tarrif of 10 years (from the article) ... so, if the parole board considered him "rehabilitated" he would have been released a

This was life, with a recommended tarrif of 10 years (from the article) ... so, if the parole board considered him "rehabilitated" he would have been released at that time, albeit on life license, which can be revoked at any time for transgressions.