Oscar Pistorius denied parole over the murder of Reeva Steenkamp

Former Paralympic athlete denied parole by South African prison authorities

Oscar Pistorius, who was jailed in 2016 for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been denied parole, according to South Africa’s prison authorities and a lawyer representing Steenkamp’s family. Once lauded for his work pushing for greater recognition and acceptance of disabled athletes, Pistorius killed Steenkamp, who was a law student and model, in his bathroom on Valentine’s Day 2013. He has gone from being a public hero to a convicted murderer in a trial that garnered international attention.

Jail sentence increased to 13 years

Pistorius was given a six-year jail term in 2016, but this was raised to 13 years on appeal by prosecutors, who argued that his initial sentence was too lenient. The South African Department of Correctional Services stated on 27 August 2021 that Pistorius had not served the minimum detention period necessary to be considered for parole. A spokesperson for the prison said that Pistorius, who is 36 years old, would need to wait until August 2024, the end of his minimum detention period, to have his parole application considered.

Steenkamp’s family opposed Pistorius’ bid for parole

The Steenkamp family had objected to Pistorius’ bid for parole, according to lawyer Tania Koen. She confirmed that June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, had experienced a “huge sense of relief” upon hearing that the parole petition had been denied. Speaking on behalf of the victim’s parents, Koen emphasised that while they welcomed the decision, it was not a cause for celebration. They miss Steenkamp every day and believe in the importance of justice, she told the media.

A gun enthusiast who killed his girlfriend

Pistorius was an admirer of the gun culture and, at the time of the murder, he told the court that he believed Steenkamp was an intruder. The athlete fired several shots at Steenkamp through the bathroom door with ammunition that would have caused maximum damage. Pistorius had to walk through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs to highlight his vulnerability when confronting an intruder. He argued that he was acting to protect Steenkamp from harm. The prosecutor in the case accused him of using emotional breakdowns to avoid questioning.

No cause for celebration, say Steenkamp’s family

Steenkamp’s father Barry met with Pistorius last year as part of South Africa’s restorative justice program, which enables victims and offenders to communicate in an effort to achieve closure. Meanwhile, June Steenkamp has stated that Pistorius shows no remorse for the murder of her daughter, and that he is not rehabilitated. For now, she expressed, there is no cause for celebration over the parole board’s decision.

Credit: https://7news.com.au/sport/oscar-pistorius-denied-parole-as-he-has-not-served-the-minimum-detention-period-for-2016-murder-of-girlfriend-c-10220146

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