Oscar Pistorius up for parole; must meet with slain girlfriend's parents first
South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius could be considered for parole, after serving half his sentence for murdering his girlfriend, according to an official and a lawyer.
The athlete shot dead model Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013 when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet. 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 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 Steenkamp family’s lawyer. The correctional services department was due to hold preliminary talks with Steenkamp’s parents, but the meeting was postponed and has yet to be rescheduled.
Before the parole process can begin, the department needs to conduct a dialogue with the victim’s family and the offender.
“There is the issue of victim-offender dialogue that needs to take place before his profile can be taken to the parole board,” prisons spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told the AFP news agency. “It’s quite a sensitive and emotional process.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/08/pistorius-reeva-steenkamp-parole