Ex-Sports Star
Oscar Pistorius case: Judiciary examines probation
June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives for the parole hearing of convicted top athlete Pistorius. photo
© Themba Hadebe/AP
The 36-year-old has served about half of his sentence of more than 13 years. Under South African law, this entitles him to a parole hearing. Will it be granted?
The planned probation hearing for former top athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of manslaughter, was followed with excitement in South Africa on Friday. Media from all over the world gathered in front of the prison. They hoped to get a glimpse of the behind-closed-doors session in the capital, Pretoria. It was initially unclear whether the hearing had already begun.
Pistorius shot his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his villa on Valentine’s Day 2013. The 36-year-old has served about half of his 13-year, five-month sentence. Under South African law, this automatically entitles him to a parole hearing.
According to a statement by Pistorius himself, the parole board wanted to interview the mother of the killed Reeva Steenkamp. It’s a very stressful day, mother June Steenkamp said when she arrived in front of the prison building. “It will be very difficult with him [Oscar Pistorius] sitting in the same room,” she said in front of the cameras. The Steenkamp family would plead against parole. Pistorius had shown no remorse and there were still open questions that he did not answer in court at the time. “We have him never believed it,” said Steenkamp. Ten years after the fact, the Steenkamps still mourned their daughter every day, said the parents’ legal representative, Tania Koen: “Time has not healed their wounds.”
According to the corrections authority, the committee may not come to a decision on the same day. Should he not be paroled, Pistorius has the right to request an appeal.