March 31st 2023.
The South African parole board has denied disgraced Paralympian Oscar Pistorius early release from prison, where he is serving 13 years and 5 months for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
(Image Source: http://www.9news.com.au)
Tania Koen, lawyer for Steenkamp's parents, confirmed the decision to CNN after the parole hearing. The former Olympic sprinter was eligible for parole consideration after serving more than half of his sentence, but Reeva's parents opposed his early release.
Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his house in 2013, but denied killing her in a fit of anger, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder. Throughout the trial, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing.
(Image Source: http://www.9news.com.au)
In 2018, Pistorius' father Henke told the UK's Times newspaper that his son ran bible classes and prayer groups for prisoners, including the jail's most feared gang leader, in order to be eligible for parole. He was also required to participate in South Africa's Restorative Justice process, which gives offenders the opportunity to "acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions."
Pistorius' sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017. The ruling was appealed by prosecutors who claimed the sentence was too lenient.
(Image Source: http://www.9news.com.au)
Despite being denied parole this time, Pistorius will be considered for parole again in a year's time. Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
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