Oscar Pistorius Parole Sparks Fury From Reeva Steenkamp's Family

The news that six-time Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius will be released on parole in January has sparked a strong reaction from the family of his late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he was convicted of fatally shooting.

Pistorius has served more than half of his 13-year sentence for murdering his girlfriend over a decade ago. On Friday, South Africa's Department of Correctional Services announced that he has been granted parole from 5 January.

Pistorius, who turned 37 on Wednesday, was known as the "Blade Runner" during his career for the innovative prosthetic legs he used. He has reportedly expressed remorse for shooting Steenkamp, 29, on Valentine's Day in 2013 but still maintains that he pulled the trigger believing a burglar was in his bathroom.

He was initially found guilty of culpable homicide but on appeal was convicted of murder.

Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, got family friend Rob Matthews—whose own 21-year-old daughter was murdered in 2004—to read out a statement on her behalf outside the prison where Pistorius is currently being held.

Matthews said: "I really just want to thank you very much for giving us the bandwidth... and giving the bandwidth to victims, because I think the tide has to change.

"Victims have to start being listened to, and the devastation that is left behind by the offenders taken into consideration... I believe that you have the opportunity to put that message out there."

The matriarch said in her statement that while she maintained Pistorius is guilty of killing her daughter, she did not oppose his parole and opted against attending the hearing because she "simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage."

"I do not believe Oscar's version that he thought the person in the toilet was a burglar," she added in her statement. "In fact, I do not know anybody who does. My dearest child screamed for her life… I believe he knew it was Reeva."

Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry Steenkamp, who attended the original trial alongside his wife, died in September. In June 2022, he met Pistorius as part of "victim-offender dialogue," a mandatory process.

The former sprinter was denied parole back in March. At the time, he was told that he would not be eligible for parole until August 2024. Pistorius' lawyer took the case to the constitutional court, citing errors in calculating his parole eligibility date.

It was found that Pistorius was, in fact, eligible for parole in March. According to South African law, those convicted of serious crimes are eligible for parole after serving at least half of their sentence.

As part of his parole, which lasts until December 2029, Pistorius will be prohibited from leaving Pretoria, the area where he is based, without permission. He will also be required to perform community service and attend an anger management program.

"Parole does not mean the end of the sentence. It is still part of the sentence," said Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services. "It only means the inmate will complete the sentence outside a correctional facility."

Back in March, Steenkamp family lawyer, Tania Koen, had hit out at the prospect Pistorius being paroled, saying that Reeva Steenkamp's parents were not convinced that the former athlete was "remorseful and rehabilitated."

Speaking to Sky News, Koen said: "They want him to serve his sentence. What has been done to them is a life sentence. They have lost their daughter. Their daughter is never coming back so they have always said that the law must take its course.

"The law said 15 years because there were no compelling and substantial reason to deviate from that sentence, so they feel unless Oscar is remorseful and rehabilitated and told them what happened that night, he should not be placed out on parole."

With the prospect of coming face-to-face with their daughter's killer on Friday morning, June Steenkamp, said: "[It'll be] very hard to be in the same room as him. I don't believe his story."

Update 11/24/23, 9:05 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional details and background information.