Family ‘distraught’ over Oscar Pistorius parole news

Eight years later, an Oscar Pistorius development has left the family of South African model Reeva Steenkamp “shocked and distraught”.

Eight years after he shot dead his girlfriend, Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius is up for parole.

The South African Paralympic champion could be considered for parole, having served half his sentence for murdering model Reeva Steenkamp.

The athlete shot dead the 29-year-old in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013 when he fired four times through the door of the toilet next to his bedroom.

Pistorius was found guilty of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to six years, but the conviction was later upgraded to murder, with a 13-year and five-month prison term.

By July this year, the 34-year-old had served half the term, the minimum period to be considered for parole, according to the victim’s family lawyer.

Tania Koen, lawyer for the Steenkamps, said the reaction of Reeva’s parents was one of shock when they were first contacted by prison services about Pistorius’ potential parole.

The Correctional Services department was due to hold preliminary talks with Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June, but the meeting was postponed and has yet to be rescheduled.

According to Associated Press, a parole hearing for Pistorius had been scheduled for last month and then cancelled as a result.

“But over that shock, they were distraught, especially after the department cancelled the meeting. That was a double blow,” Koen said

“It opens a lot of wounds, or rips off the plasters they had put on those wounds.”

Oscar Pistorius leaves court after his sentence was increased in 2016. Photo by Charlie Shoemaker/Getty Images.

Before the parole process can begin, the Correctional Services department needs to facilitate a dialogue between the victim’s family and the offender.

Pistorius last year broke his silence from prison to ask for forgiveness from the Steenkamp family. His former teacher Bill Schroder said Pistorius wanted forgiveness more than a release from prison and said the double-amputee sprinter “feared” being paroled because of the outcry that would follow.

Steenkamp’s parents want a face-to-face meeting with Pistorius before he is considered for early release from prison, as is their right under South Africa’s victim-offender dialogue policy, which is designed to help the victims of crimes — and their families — find closure.

Reeva Steenkamp’s life was tragically cut short. AP Photo/Courtesy of Stimulii-HO.

The family has previously said they want to confront Pistorius.

“There is the issue of victim-offender dialogue that needs to take place before his profile can be taken to the parole board,” prisons spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo told AFP.

“It’s quite a sensitive and emotional process.”

Koen said the parole board had been due to discuss his parole on October 27 or 29.

“But because certain requirements were not met, they have stopped the process and they will have to make sure they have the necessary reports,” including talks with the victim’s family, the offender and supply of psychologist and social worker reports, she said.

“He has been eligible for parole since July of this year,” said Koen. “But that does not mean he has automatic right to be released on parole.”

Oscar Pistorius's competes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images.

Reeva Steenkamp. AFP PHOTO / Ice Models Picture.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at the Olympics when he took part In the London 2012 Games. He competed on prosthetic blades — a feat that had earned him the nickname Blade Runner.

Pistorius became a role model for disabled people worldwide until his televised murder trial, which fixated South Africans and generated international headlines.

He has always maintained that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four high-calibre bullets through a locked toilet cubicle.

Earlier, Pistorius’ father Henke told a local TV news network, eNCA, “Our compassion and condolences go out to them all the time”.

— with New Zealand Herald