Oscar Pistorius, a former athlete from South Africa, was denied parole because of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp ten years ago.
In February 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, four times through the toilet door of his high-security home.
The 36-year-old is being kept in a correctional institution outside of Pretoria, where the parole board made its judgment during a hearing there.
According to the Department of Correctional Services, the parole board determined that Pistorius had not served the minimum amount of time in custody necessary for release.
According to Tania Koen, an attorney for the victim’s family, “we were… instructed that it has been denied and will be considered again in one year.”
June and Barry Steenkamp, the former athlete’s parents, had opposed an early release because they didn’t think he had been truthful about what had transpired and hadn’t demonstrated regret.
“Although we appreciate the decision made today, there is no need to celebrate. For the rest of our lives, we shall continue to miss Reeva horribly. We trust in justice and that it would triumph in the future,” they said.
While there was no proof Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp, the trial judge ruled him guilty in 2014 of the less serious charge of culpable homicide because he had “acted too quickly and used excessive force.”
Women’s rights organizations and other groups were outraged by the ruling, and the athlete was ultimately found guilty of murder following an appeal by the prosecution.
13 years in prison were added to his original sentence. After serving half of their sentence, offenders in South Africa are automatically eligible for parole consideration.
Pistorius began his term in 2014 and has already completed more than half of it. In August 2024, the parole board will review a fresh application.
Who Is Reeva Steenkamp
Reeva Steenkamp, a South African model and television personality, was fatally shot by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic champion and Olympic athlete, on February 14, 2013.
The incident took place at Pistorius’ home in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius, who is a double amputee, became well-known as the “Blade Runner” due to the carbon-fiber prosthetic legs he used for running.
On the night of the incident, Pistorius claimed that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and fired four shots through the closed bathroom door, which led to Steenkamp’s death.
The case received widespread international attention, with many questioning whether the shooting was a tragic accident or an intentional act.
After a high-profile trial, Pistorius was initially found guilty of culpable homicide in September 2014 and was sentenced to five years in prison.
In October 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa overturned the culpable homicide conviction and instead found him guilty of murder, stating that Pistorius should have foreseen the possibility of killing someone when he fired his gun.
His sentence was subsequently increased to 13 years and five months.
The case sparked debates on gun control, domestic violence, and the treatment of celebrities in the criminal justice system.