Oscar Pistorius has been denied an early release from prison after serving six years in jail and a decade after he murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Ms Steenkamp’s parents opposed the bid made by their daughter’s killer, with her mother June telling the parole hearing today that she did not believe Pistorius had been rehabilitated and that he never told them the truth.
Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp dead in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, firing four times through the bathroom door of his Pretoria house, in a killing that shocked the world.
He was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial in which he maintained that he had mistaken Ms Steenkamp for an intruder.
He has now been denied parole and will remain at Atteridgeville prison on the outskirts of Pretoria, having already been in prison for six years.
June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp arrives at the Atteridgeville Prison for the parole hearing of Oscar Pistorius
The high profile case gripped the world as the South African athlete (left) was a celebrated Olympian and Paralympian, while Ms Steenkamp (right) was a successful model and TV star
The Steenkamp family’s lawyer, Tania Koen, said: ‘It’s painful June has to face Oscar Pistorius again this morning. He is the killer of their daughter, for them, it’s a life sentence.’
Ms Steenkamp’s mother, June, said before appearing at the hearing that Pistorius was ‘not remorseful or rehabilitated’.
She arrived shortly before 10.00am (9.00 GMT) to make oral and written statements on behalf of herself and her husband, Barry, expressing their view that Pistorius should not be released.
Speaking to reporters outside, June, who is from Blackburn, Lancashire, said she was ‘very stressed’ and that ‘I don’t believe his story’.
Ms Steenkamp’s father Barry was not present due to ill health, but had a statement read out on his behalf which was described as ‘extremely emotional, extremely to the core’.
Carmen Dodd, who read Barry’s victim-impact statement, said: ‘Barry said he can’t sleep at night, he can’t find closure until the real truth is given to him.
‘He says, before he dies, he has one wish and that is Oscar would just tell us exactly what happened on that night.’
Ms Steenkamp’s parents will welcome the news today, with their lawyer, Tania Koen, revealing that June is ‘very relieved that it’s over’.
‘It was very unpleasant for her, the circumstances, but she knew she had to do it for Reeva and she did it… I am very proud of her.’
Ms Steenkamp’s parents will welcome the news today, with their lawyer, Tania Koen, revealing that June is ‘very relieved that it’s over’
Ms Steenkamp’s mother, June, arrived shortly before 10.00am (9.00 GMT) to make oral and written statements on behalf of herself and her husband, Barry
June said before the hearing that she was ‘very nervous’ and that it was ‘very hard to be in the same room’ as her daughter’s killer.
Ms Koen said it will be particularly tough for the heartbroken mother, as she has not confronted her daughter’s killer since 2016.
‘It’s a very traumatic experience, as you can imagine… It’s painful June has to face Oscar Pistorius again this morning. He is the killer of their daughter, for them, it’s a life sentence.’
Pistorius was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial in which he maintained that he had mistaken Ms Steenkamp for an intruder
Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius walks in the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during his resentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend
‘For them, it’s 10 missed birthdays, 10 Mother’s Days, 10 Father’s Days, 10 Christmases.’
‘They don’t feel that he should be released, they feel he has shown no remorse and he’s not rehabilitated, because if he had been he would have come clean and told the true story of what happened that night.’
‘They believe he intended to kill Reeva… unless he comes clean, they don’t feel that he has rehabilitated.’
Oscar Pistorius will now remain at Atteridgeville Correctional Centre on the outskirts of Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius will not be released from prison early, a decade after he killed his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp
‘They have no expectations,’ Koen previously said of the Steenkamps ahead of the hearing. ‘The law must take its course’.
Pistorius had pleaded not guilty and denied that he killed Ms Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar – a version of events her family sees as untrue.
The gun enthusiast shot his girlfriend several times through the bathroom door with ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage to the human body.
Pistorius was jailed in 2016 six years initially before his sentence was extended to 13 years in 2017.
He has now served more than half of his sentence, and offenders in South Africa are automatically eligible for parole consideration at this point.
Prison staff at the entrance to the Atteridgeville Prison where Oscar Pistorius is being held
Sources say Pistorius has been affected by his time in custody, and is now a shadow of his former self.
He could now leave Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria as early as today if his parole is granted.
Comprising of at least three people, including prison services and community members, the board is to determine whether the purpose of imprisonment has been served, according to the Department of Correctional Services.
A spokesman at Atteridgeville today said the former athlete had been ‘working quite hard’ during his time at the prison.
He added that should the parole board think that any further ‘interventions’ need to be made with the prisoner, ‘they will provide a timeframe for that’.
In June last year Pistorius agreed to meet the Steenkamps in prison, as part of South Africa’s victim-offender dialogue programme
Pistorius met Barry Steenkamp (left) last year. But Ms Steenkamp’s father came away from the meeting dissatisfied and ’emotional’. He did not travel to Pretoria today due to poor health
Barry Steenkamp is consoled by his wife June during the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in October 2014
The independent parole board had to determine, among other issues, whether Pistorius posed a risk of committing similar crimes in the future, prison spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said previously.
It also considered his disciplinary record, training programmes in prison and his physical and mental state, prison officials said.
Of all the factors, legal experts considered the behavior of Pistorius while in prison as likely to have been the most important consideration.
His lawyer, Julian Knight, previously said Pistorius has been a ‘model prisoner.’
Mr Knight said he would not comment until after a decision on the parole is made today.
Pistorius met Barry Steenkamp in June last year, in a process authorities said aims to ensure inmates ‘acknowledge the harm they have caused to their victims and the society at large’.
But Ms Steenkamp’s father came away from the meeting dissatisfied and ’emotional’, his lawyer said.
‘It was traumatic for both Mr Pistorius and Barry, it was painful, really painful,’ said Ms Koen today.
When asked whether Barry got the sense that Oscar had any remorse, Ms Koen said: ‘No, that’s why we’re here today’.
Barry did not travel to Pretoria from his home in Port Elizabeth today because of poor health.
His wife said the almost 80-year-old ‘is not well’ and that he ‘can’t walk anymore’.
The board will consider whether Pistorius has been rehabilitated or still poses a danger to society, as well as his conduct in prison, according to the correctional services.
The hearing will be closed to the media.
The case was particularly high profile as the famous South African athlete had just a year earlier been the first double amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics, while Ms Steenkamp was a successful model and TV star.
The South African athlete, nicknamed Blade Runner after his racing prosthetics, had been a widely-celebrated Paralympian prior to the killing
Ms Steenkamp was a successful model and TV star. She modeled for the jewelry company Sivana Diamonds and was the first face of Avon cosmetics in South Africa
After taking part in London 2012, Pistorius was then was a sporting icon. who was courted by sponsors and admired worldwide for overcoming the difficulties associated with his disability.
But it all came crashing down after the killing, with the world bearing witness to his downfall as his trial was televised.
Following sentencing, he was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru II maximum security prison, one of South Africa’s most notorious.
The killer, who uses prosthetics after his lower legs were amputated as a baby, was moved to the Atteridgeville prison in 2016, a facility which is better suited to disabled prisoners.
Former Olympic and Paralympic athlete Pistorius shot dead Ms Steenkamp, 29, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel
[ad_2]
Source link
hartford car insurance shop car insurance best car insurance quotes best online car insurance get auto insurance quotes auto insurance quotes most affordable car insurance car insurance providers car insurance best deals best insurance quotes get car insurance online best comprehensive car insurance best cheap auto insurance auto policy switching car insurance car insurance quotes auto insurance best affordable car insurance online auto insurance quotes az auto insurance commercial auto insurance instant car insurance buy car insurance online best auto insurance companies best car insurance policy best auto insurance vehicle insurance quotes aaa insurance quote auto and home insurance quotes car insurance search best and cheapest car insurance best price car insurance best vehicle insurance aaa car insurance quote find cheap car insurance new car insurance quote auto insurance companies get car insurance quotes best cheap car insurance car insurance policy online new car insurance policy get car insurance car insurance company best cheap insurance car insurance online quote car insurance finder comprehensive insurance quote car insurance quotes near me get insurance