Oscar Pistorius, Olympic Runner Convicted of Murder, Is Up for Parole

[Demovictory9]

Oscar Pistorius, Olympic Runner Convicted of Murder, Is Up for Parole
The double-amputee sprinter has served half his sentence for killing his girlfriend. His victim’s parents were said to be “shocked” at the prospect of his release.

JOHANNESBURG — Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympic sprinter who garnered global headlines after killing his girlfriend in 2013, may soon be paroled from prison, South African corrections officials said Monday.

Mr. Pistorius shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a locked bathroom door in February 2013. He claimed that her death was an accident, and that he had fired his gun in the belief that an intruder had entered his upscale home in a Pretoria suburb.

He was convicted of manslaughter — later upgraded to murder — and sentenced to 15 years. And on Monday, the Department of Correctional Services said Mr. Pistorius, 34, had served half his sentence, making him automatically eligible for parole under South African law.


But first Mr. Pistorius will have to face his victim’s parents as part of the parole-consideration process — a prospect they sounded distressed by on Monday. The parents are “shocked and surprised” at having to consider the athlete’s freedom sooner than they expected, a lawyer for the family said.




Prison has “taken its toll” on the celebrity athlete once nicknamed the Blade Runner, said Julian Knight, Mr. Pistorius’s lawyer. “When Oscar is eventually released on parole, I don’t think he’ll be anywhere like the Oscar that went into prison,” Mr. Knight said.


https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/08/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-bladerunner-parole.html

[elias7]

1. I always wondered if his springy blades made him faster than he otherwise would have been

That being said, 7 1/2 yrs for murder seems a bit scant

[Submariner]

2. Life without parole

Her life is gone forever. He stole her future. He should never see freedom again.

I don’t understand this 5 to 10 year crap for murder.

[Demovictory9]

3. I recall that judge liked him