South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was denied parole on Friday after he sought an early release from prison, ten years after he was convicted of shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Legal experts and authorities were surprised by the decision. The Department of Correctional Services had previously stated that Pistorius was eligible for early release, having served more than half his sentence.
The parole board determined that Pistorius had not completed the minimum detention period required for parole, which led to the denial. The board will reconsider Pistorius’ parole application in one year.
Oscar Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp, a model, on Valentine’s Day in 2013, by firing four shots through the bathroom door of his heavily secured home in Pretoria. The high-profile killing shocked the world.
Steenkamp’s parents, who opposed Pistorius’ early release, welcomed the decision. However, they believe the former athlete has not been truthful about the events of that night and has not shown genuine remorse for his actions.
The parole board’s main task was to determine whether the purpose of Pistorius’ imprisonment had been served. After reviewing the case, they decided to grant Pistorius a different profile for August 2024, citing that the athlete had not completed the minimum detention period ruled by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
In a memo seen by the media, the court explained that Pistorius’ prison term began on the day of the last judgment in 2017, not when he was first sentenced in 2014. Legal experts found the court’s memo surprising, as it contradicted previous interpretations of its ruling. Consequently, the parole hearing should not have taken place at this time.
Pistorius, also known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetics, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2017 after a lengthy trial and multiple appeals. He pleaded not guilty, claiming he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar when he shot her.
Inmates can approach the courts for review if their parole application is denied.
