By Isabelle Wilson-
Oscar Pistorius, (pictured)the former Paralympian who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been denied parole in South Africa.
The 36-year-old had been seeking early release 10 years after the Valentine’s Day shooting.
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However, the prison authorities said he had not served enough time and they would consider the matter again next year.
The South African athlete will have to stay in prison for at least another 16 months, and will be able to reapply in August next year.
There have been legal battles over when the shamed former star should be eligible for parole because of a series of appeals in his case and when his sentence started.
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He was initially convicted of culpable homicide – similar to manslaughter – in 2014 but after several appeals the conviction was raised to murder in 2017 with a term of 13 years and five months
Ms Steenkamp’s parents welcomed the decision, but said it was not a cause for celebration.
“We miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail,” a family statement said.
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist has expressed his deep remorse for killing his girlfriend in 2013, but continues to maintain he shot her by mistake, believing she was a robber.
“I don’t believe Oscar is remorseful… or rehabilitated,” June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, said before she appeared at the hearing at Atteridgeville prison, a low-security facility outside the city of Pretoria.
The televised trial of the man once dubbed “the Blade Runner”, because of the ground-breaking prosthetic legs he wore in both Paralympic and Olympic track races, attracted huge global attention.
Ms Steenkamp’s parents welcomed the decision, but said it was not a cause for celebration.
“We miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail,” a family statement said.
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist has expresseds deep remorse for killing his girlfriend in 2013, but continues to maintain he shot her by mistake, believing she was a robber.
“I don’t believe Oscar is remorseful… or rehabilitated,” June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, said before she appeared at the hearing at Atteridgeville prison, a low-security facility outside the city of Pretoria.
Eligibility For Parole
Prisoners become eligible for parole in South Africa after serving half of their sentence.
Confusion over the timing of his sentence comes as he was sentenced twice and spent time under house arrest.
Pistorius was initially found guilty of culpable homicide and given a six-year term. But prosecutors launched an appeal, arguing this was too lenient.
The televised trial of the man once dubbed “the Blade Runner”, because of the ground-breaking prosthetic legs he wore in both Paralympic and Olympic track races, made him a global attraction and household name.
Pistorius claimed in court it was only when he battered down the door with a cricket bat that he realised who was behind it.
But the prosecution disbelieved him and insisted the murder was premeditated and Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp after an argument, and insisted the murder was premeditated and Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp after an argument.
He went from hero to villain in a flash on 14 February 2013 when he shot and killed his girlfriend in a bathroom at his home in Pretoria, South Africa.
He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, hitting Ms Steenkamp, 29- a model and law graduate- in the head, hip and arm.
A hearing had previously been cancelled because Pistorius had not met Ms Steenkamp’s parents, but in June 2022, the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation confirmed that a meeting with Pistorius and Barry Steenkamp had taken place as part of South Africa’s restorative justice programme.
Reeva Steenkamp. Image: AP
Ms Steenkamp’s father Barry was not present due to ill health, but had a statement read out on his behalf which was described as ‘extremely emotional, extremely to the core’.
Carmen Dodd, who read Barry’s victim-impact statement, said: ‘Barry said he can’t sleep at night, he can’t find closure until the real truth is given to him.
‘He says, before he dies, he has one wish and that is Oscar would just tell us exactly what happened on that night.’
Ms Steenkamp’s parents welcomed the news today, with their Ms Koen revealing that June is ‘very relieved that it’s over’.
The lawyer paid tribute to Reeva’s mother June, 79, saying the ordeal of the hearing had been ‘very stressful’ for her.
She added that it had taken a ‘huge amount of guts and courage’ for her to attend.
‘It was very unpleasant for her, the circumstances
Image: Alan Skuy
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