Oscar Pistorius Denied Parole for Murder Sentence

Former South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was denied parole for the 2008 murder of his fiancée Reeva Steenkamp.

In February 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, four times through the restroom door of his high-security home. The parole board made its decision during a hearing conducted at the prison on the outskirts of Pretoria, where the 36-year-old is being held.

The Department of Correctional Services reported that the parole commission determined Pistorius had not served the minimum amount of time required for release. Tania Koen, an attorney for the victim’s family, told AFP, “We have been informed that the application has been denied and that it will be reconsidered in one year.”

June and Barry Steenkamp opposed Steenkamp’s early release, saying Pistorius had not shown remorse for his crime.

“While we welcome today’s decision, today is not a cause for celebration. We miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail,” the couple said via their attorney in a statement.

In 2017, after a lengthy trial and multiple appeals, Pistorius was convicted guilty of murder and given a 13-year prison sentence. State prosecutors accused him of murdering Steenkamp deliberately out of envy and rage.

The athlete, who frequently cried in court, denied the accusation, stating that he was profoundly in love with her and believed he was protecting her from an intruder when he shot through the bathroom door.