Former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is appearing before a parole board on Friday, as he bids for an early release from prison for his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp‘s murder.
Pistorius shot and killed Ms Steenkamp at their home in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2013. He was given a 13- years jail sentence for her murder in 2017 - but could be freed if he is successful at the hearing at Atteridgeville prison.
His bid has been boosted after Ms Steenkamp’s mother June decided to not oppose an early release, who said she could not “muster the energy to face him again at this stage” in a statement read outside the prison.
However, she has issued a powerful victim impact statement to the hearing in which she said she did not believe Pistorius’ claim he thought he was shooting at an intruder in their house.
She said her dearest child “screamed for her life” during the killing, which had left a “massive hole” for her family. But she also said she had forgiven Pistorius as she “would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger”.
Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp in 2012 - a year before he killed her at their apartment— (AP)
In the victim impact statement, reported by Mail Online, June Steenkamp wrote: “I do not believe Oscar’s version that he thought the person in the toilet was a burglar. In fact, I do not know anybody who does.
“My dearest child screamed for her life; loud enough for the neighbours to hear her. I do not know what gave rise to his choice to shoot through a closed door four times at somebody with hollow-point ammunition when I believe, he knew it was Reeva.”
She continued: “I’m not attending Oscar’s parole hearing, as I simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage.
“I had forgiven Oscar long ago, as I knew almost instantly that I would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger. I do know that messages sent by Reeva highlights huge anger issues.”
Today’s parole hearing is the latest twist in the story of the double-amputee runner, once known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs and who was a national hero in South Africa after winning gold at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics.
June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, is not opposing the parole hearing - a boost for Pistorius’ case— (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
But during the incident at his home on Valentine’s Day, he killed Steenkamp, a 29 year-old law graduate, when he fired four shots with a pistol through the door of a toilet cubicle.
The now 37-year-old claimed it was a mistake, believing there was a dangerous intruder hiding in the bathroom.
After a highly-publicised murder trial, he was initially convicted for culpable homicide - a charge comparable to manslaughter - and jailed for five years in 2014, before the conviction was overturned the following year.
However, he was convicted of murder after an appeal by prosecutors, and jailed for six years in 2016 - before, in 2017, the sentence was more than doubled to 13 years and five months by the supreme court.
Under South African law, serious offenders must serve at least half their sentence to be eligible for parole, which Pistorius has now done.
In March, he was denied parole after not completing the minimum detention period - but in October this was deemed wrong after the constitutional court said he had served half his sentence by March 21 this year.
Pistorius won gold at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics— (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)
The parole board will consider a number of factors including the nature of the crime, his conduct in prison and the possibility of reoffending.
Under a release, Pistorius could be released on full parole or day parole, where he can live and work in the community but must return to prison at night.
