South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is predicted to study on Friday whether or not he will probably be launched from jail early, a decade after he shot and killed his girlfriend, attorneys stated.
Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp, a mannequin, within the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, firing 4 occasions by means of the lavatory door of his ultra-secure Pretoria home, in a killing that shocked the world.
A parole listening to started within the morning at a correctional facility on the outskirts of the capital the place the 36-year-old is being held.
Steenkamp’s dad and mom are opposing an early launch, saying they don’t consider the ex-athlete advised the reality about what occurred and has not proven regret.
“I do not consider his story,” Steenkamp’s mom, June, carrying a darkish blazer and white shirt, advised journalists from the again of a automobile as she arrived on the correctional facility.
She didn’t meet head to head along with her daughter’s killer on Friday, because the parole board determined to listen to the 2 individually, Steenkamp’s household lawyer Tania Koen stated.
“We have now been suggested that there will probably be a choice later at the moment,” Koen added, talking to reporters outdoors the jail after Steenkamp’s mom addressed the board.
A correctional providers spokesman later cautioned a choice may additionally come at a later stage.
“It was very disagreeable for her… however she knew that she needed to do it for Reeva,” Koen stated of June Steenkamp’s look earlier than the board.
Steenkamp’s father Barry was unable to journey due to unwell well being however submitted an announcement, she added.
“Earlier than he dies he has one want and that is Oscar would simply inform us precisely what occurred that evening,” Carmen Dodd, who learn the assertion to the board, advised journalists.
Pistorius can be anticipated to deal with the listening to and reply to the Steenkamp submissions.
Comprising at the least three individuals, together with jail providers and group members, the board is to find out whether or not the aim of imprisonment has been served, in response to the Division of Correctional Providers.
– ‘Traumatic’ –
Identified worldwide because the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius was discovered responsible of homicide and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a prolonged trial and several other appeals.
He had pleaded not responsible and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.
Prisoners in South Africa are robotically eligible for parole consideration after serving half of their sentence.
Pistorius has served greater than half, having began his time period in 2014.
His lawyer Julian Knight stated he wouldn’t remark till after a choice on the parole was made.
Pistorius met with Steenkamp’s dad and mom final yr, a part of a course of that authorities say goals to make sure inmates “acknowledge the hurt they’ve induced to their victims and the society at massive”.
Koen described the assembly as “very emotional” and “traumatic”.
The board will take into account whether or not Pistorius has been rehabilitated or nonetheless poses a hazard to society, and assessment his conduct in jail, in response to the correctional providers.
A yr earlier than killing Steenkamp, Pistorius grew to become the primary double amputee to race within the Olympics, competing on the 2012 London Video games.
He grew to become a family identify worldwide and courted by sponsors, nevertheless it all got here crashing down after the killing.
Parole choices are often identified the identical day of the listening to or a day later, however the correctional providers division had indicated that in Pistorius’ case it won’t be taken on Friday.
If denied, he has the suitable to strategy the courts for assessment.
ub/imm
Initially printed as S.Africa’s Pistorius seeks parole decade after killing girlfriend
