South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has been granted early release on parole, marking a decade since the tragic killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) confirmed the parole placement for Mr. Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, effective from January 5, 2024.
Pistorius, known globally as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, appeared before a parole board at a correctional centre outside Pretoria, where he is currently detained. This marks his second attempt at parole in less than eight months, having lost the first bid in March due to not completing the minimum detention period required for release.
The decision follows a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court, overturning the earlier board’s finding and allowing for a new hearing. The high-profile case garnered worldwide attention as Pistorius was found guilty of murdering Steenkamp in 2013, firing four shots through the bathroom door of his Pretoria residence.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, expressed reservations about Pistorius’s eligibility for parole, emphasizing the importance of genuine remorse in the rehabilitation process. Despite her forgiveness of Pistorius, she maintained that true rehabilitation requires an honest acknowledgment of the crime’s full truth.
Pistorius, now 37, received a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial and multiple appeals. He had consistently pleaded not guilty, claiming he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar. As part of his rehabilitation efforts, Pistorius met with Steenkamp’s parents last year, a process aimed at fostering an understanding of the harm caused by inmates.
June Steenkamp, though absent from the parole hearing, was represented by a family spokesman and a lawyer. While expressing forgiveness, she also shared her doubts about Pistorius’s version of events, stating that her daughter’s screams on that fateful night were loud enough for neighbors to hear.