Oscar Pistorius denied parole – Japan Today

Former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was denied parole on Friday and will have to remain in prison for at least another year and four months after it was decided he had not served the “minimum detention period” required to be released. after his conviction for murder in 2013. girlfriend of Riva Steenkamp.

The Parole Board, reviewing Pistorius’s application, has ruled that he will be able to apply again in August 2024, the South African Department of Corrections said in a statement. According to the statement, the board cited a new clarification of Pistorius’ verdict that was issued by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal three days ago.

The result was unexpected, but there was legal wrangling over when Pistorius should be eligible for parole due to a series of appeals in his case. He was initially convicted of manslaughter, a charge comparable to manslaughter, in 2014, but the case went through a number of appeals before Pistorius was finally sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison for murder in 2017.

Serious offenders must serve at least half of their sentence to be eligible for parole in South Africa, and Pistorius’ lawyers have gone to court to argue he is now eligible because he has served the required time in prison since late 2014. after his murder. belief.

June Steenkamp, mother of Riva Steenkamp, attended Pistorius’s hearing on Friday to oppose his parole. Riva Steenkamp’s parents said they still do not believe Pistorius’ story about the murder of their daughter.

Pistorius has always claimed to have killed Stenkamp in the wee hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, mistaking her for a dangerous intruder in his home. The Steenkamps said they thought he killed her on purpose after a night of arguing and wanted him to stay in jail.