Cape Town — Former Paralympian champion Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole and will not be released early from his 13‑year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, Sky News reports. The “Blade Runner” made the unsuccessful application after serving half of his term. Pistorius will be eligible to apply for early release again in August 2024.
Tania Koen, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, said: “I can confirm that parole has been denied. They will reconvene in a year to reconsider him again and we don’t know the reasons yet (for the denial)… I’ve just received a call from the parole board… It is a huge sense of relief for June.”
In South Africa, parole involves a restorative‑justice process that gives victims an opportunity to reconcile with the perpetrator or receive an apology. Pistorius was initially found guilty of manslaughter in 2013 and sentenced to five years in jail. The State appealed the verdict, and in 2015 he was convicted of murder, receiving a longer sentence of 13 years and five months.
Comments are closed for this story.