Oscar Pistorius meets with girlfriend’s father, seeking parole
CAPE TOWN, South Africa –
South African former observe star Oscar Pistorius has met with the daddy of Reeva Steenkamp, the girl he shot to demise in 2013, as a part of his parole course of, the Steenkamp’s household lawyer informed The Related Press on Friday.
Lawyer Tania Koen mentioned in a textual content message that Pistorius and Barry Steenkamp met face-to-face on June 22 as a part of what’s recognized in South Africa as a victim-offender dialogue. It provides victims of crimes or their relations an opportunity to fulfill with the offenders, in the event that they select to, earlier than the offender may be eligible for parole.
Koen confirmed the assembly however declined to present any extra particulars. She wrote in her message: “The dialogue is a non-public and confidential matter, therefore we ask that our shoppers’ privateness be revered.”
Pistorius, as soon as a double-amputee observe star who made historical past by working on the Olympics, grew to become eligible for parole final 12 months, eight years after killing his girlfriend in his residence within the South African capital, Pretoria. Pistorius, who’s now 35, was in the end convicted of homicide in 2015 after an extended and dramatic trial and quite a few appeals. He was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in jail.
He has served most of his sentence at a jail in Pretoria however was moved to a facility within the southern metropolis of Gqeberha, the Steenkamps’ residence city, forward of the assembly with Barry Steenkamp.
A parole listening to for Pistorius was scheduled for final 12 months however it was cancelled as a result of he hadn’t but met with Steenkamp’s dad and mom.
In South Africa, these convicted of a critical crime should serve at the very least half their sentence earlier than they’re eligible for parole. Pistorius had already served time in jail after being initially convicted of culpable murder — a cost much like manslaughter — earlier than an enchantment by prosecutors resulted in that being overturned and him being convicted of homicide.
Pistorius should nonetheless attend a parole listening to, the place division of corrections officers will resolve if he ought to be launched early. Pistorius’ lawyer, Julian Knight, mentioned final 12 months that he had been “a mannequin prisoner” and met the necessities for parole.
Pistorius was born with a congenital situation that led to each his legs being amputated beneath the knee when he was a child. He grew to become a a number of Paralympic sprinting champion working on carbon-fibre blades, and even certified to compete in opposition to the world’s finest able-bodied athletes on the 2012 London Olympics.
However his picture as one of the inspiring figures in sports activities was shattered when he shot the 29-year-old Steenkamp a number of instances via a bathroom door in his home within the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013. He claimed he mistook her for a harmful intruder however was convicted of a cost akin to second-degree homicide as a result of he acted so recklessly by firing via the bathroom door together with his 9mm pistol.
