Oscar Pistorius, a former paralympic athlete from South Africa, was refused parole on Friday, according to the country’s prison system and the victim’s family’s attorney. Pistorius was imprisoned in 2016 for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
On February 14, 2013, Valentine’s Day, Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp, a model and law student, in his toilet. Pistorius had once been the darling of the Paralympic movement for advocating for wider recognition and appreciation of athletes with disabilities.
In a trial that garnered international attention, the athlete, known as “Blade Runner” because of his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, went from being a public hero to being found guilty of murder. He was first sentenced to six years in prison in 2016, but after the prosecution filed an appeal and claimed the penalty was too light, the punishment was doubled to 13 years.
The 36-year-old Pistorius has not served the minimum amount of time in custody necessary to be eligible for release, according to a statement from the Department of Correctional Services on Friday.
At a press conference, prison spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo stated, “He would have reached the minimum imprisonment duration by August 2024, at which point the (parole) board would make a judgment.”
“He’ll have to show up again the following year. Following that, we review the profile and decide where to position him. But for now, it was enough to claim that he had not completed the required amount of time in custody.” According to their attorney Tania Koen, the family of Steenkamp had objected to the proposal.
“My phone rang from the parole board just now. June feels a great deal of relief “With reference to Reeva’s mother, she stated. Before to the closed-door hearing, June Steenkamp had already admitted to feeling anxious when she arrived to the jail in Atteridgeville, close to the capital Pretoria.
Koen spoke on behalf of Reeva’s parents and stated, “Although we appreciate today’s decision, it is not a reason for rejoicing.” “For the rest of our lives, we will continue to mourn Reeva horribly. Justice is something we believe in, and we want it will triumph.”
