Foreign
Oscar Pistorius denied parole and will remain in prison for at least another year and four months
Denial of Parole:
Oscar Pistorius was denied parole on Friday, meaning he will spend at least another year and four months in prison for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The parole board held that Pistorius had not served the “minimum detention period” needed to be released, according to local media. The hearing also cited the new clarification on Pistorius’ sentence, as issued by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal three days previously. The board ruling stated that Pistorius may apply again in August 2024.
Legal Battle for Parole:
Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide, comparable to manslaughter, in 2014, but the case underwent a series of appeals, finally resulting in his being sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison for murder in 2017. Serious offenders are required to serve at least half their sentence before they can be considered for parole. In an application to the court, Pistorius had argued that he had served the necessary portion of his sentence for parole eligibility after his conviction for culpable homicide in late 2014.
Opposition to Parole:
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, had attended Friday’s hearing in opposition to Pistorius being granted parole. Reeva’s parents maintain that Pistorius deliberately murdered her, rather than saying that he had mistaken her for a dangerous intruder. The Steenkamps have said that they want Pistorius to remain in prison.
Pistorius’ Claim:
Oscar Pistorius has always maintained that he shot Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine‘s Day in 2013, mistaking her for a home invader. The athlete’s account of these events have faced opposition and criticism in the past.
Credit: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/31/1167450979/oscar-pistorius-parole-denied-south-africa-reeva-steenkamp
