The parole of former South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been rejected, and he will not be released early from the 13-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, News Central reports.
Pistorius’ application is coming after already serving half of his prison term. Pistorius will only be eligible to apply for early release again in August 2024.
Tania Koen, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family said: “I can confirm that parole has been denied, they will reconvene in a year to reconsider him again and we don’t know the reasons yet (for the denial) … I’ve just received a call from the parole board… It is a huge sense of relief for June.”
In South Africa, parole requires a process of restorative justice that allows the victims of a crime to reconcile with the perpetrator or receive an apology.
Pistorius was initially charged with manslaughter over Steenkamp’s death in 2013 and sentenced to five years in jail. The State appealed the verdict and the sentence in 2015, and Pistorius was found guilty of murder and a longer sentence of 13 years and 5 months was passed.