Oscar Pistorius denied parole over the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius, a paralympic athlete from South Africa, has been denid parole for the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, 10 years ago on Valentines Day.

Reeva Steenkamp’s family testified that they felt that he hadn’t shown remorse for his actions, and that he wasn’t honest about the events that led to their daughter losing her life.

He fatally shot and murdered Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, he shot her through a locked bathroom door because he thought she was an intruder. The prosecution however, thought the couple had a fight earlier and he shot her in a jealous fit of rage.

After his arrest, Pistorius was given a murder charge. Bail was first granted, but was then cancelled after further information became available, including the likelihood that Pistorius posed a flight risk. After that, Pistorius was detained until his trial, which was conducted in March 2014.

Despite entering a not guilty plea to the murder allegation during the trial, Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide—the South African equivalent of manslaughter. Pistorius received a five-year jail term, which the public and social media didn’t agree, given the seriousness of the crime that resulted in a woman losing her life in such a brutal way.

The prosecution appealed the decision, and in 2016, Pistorius was found guilty of murder and his sentence was increased to six years in prison.

In 2017, Pistorius was denied parole and was told he would have to wait until 2023 to be considered for release. The decision was based on his lack of remorse for the murder of Steenkamp, and the fact that he hadn’t told the truth about what happened on that fateful night. He was a very poor witness when he was put on the stand, and he kept contradicting himself or changing the story a couple of times.

The case of Oscar Pistorius is a tragic one, and it highlights the importance of accountability and responsibility in cases of violence against women. Despite his fame and success as an athlete, Pistorius was not above the law, and justice was served in the end.

With his parole denied, Oscar Pistorius will now have to apply for parole again in 2024, and hopefully it will be granted then.

This is a murder case that gripped the nation and the world at large, given the fact that he was an Olympic medalist, and very successful in his career. And as sad as everything is for the Steenkamp’s family, Oscar Pistorius staying in jail will never bring Reeva back, and that is a real tragedy.