South Africa’s former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been granted early release from prison, ten years after the tragic shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The parole board, responsible for reviewing Pistorius’s readiness for social reintegration, decided to release him on parole starting January 5, according to the Department of Correctional Services.
“Mr. Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires,” stated the department.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, expressed skepticism about Pistorius’s rehabilitation during the parole hearing. She emphasized that true remorse requires full acknowledgment of the crime and its consequences. Despite her reservations, June Steenkamp did not oppose Pistorius’s parole.
This parole hearing, conducted at a correctional center outside Pretoria where Pistorius is currently held, marks his second attempt in less than eight months. The Constitutional Court’s recent ruling corrected an earlier decision, allowing for a new hearing.
Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetics, was found guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He received a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after multiple trials and appeals.
Despite Pistorius’s claim that he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar, June Steenkamp does not believe his version of events. She stated that her daughter screamed for her life, casting doubt on Pistorius’s choice to shoot through a closed door.
As part of his rehabilitation, Pistorius met Steenkamp’s parents last year, a process aimed at ensuring inmates acknowledge the harm they caused. June Steenkamp, not present at the parole hearing, was represented by a family spokesman and a lawyer.
In South Africa, offenders are automatically eligible for parole consideration after serving half of their sentence. The parole board assesses whether an inmate poses a danger to society, considering the seriousness of the offense and the inmate’s behavior behind bars.
Parole typically comes with conditions such as monitoring by authorities and reporting to a community correction center.
By AFP
