MADRID, 8 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, in prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, could be granted parole, although he must meet with the parents of the deceased young woman as a requirement to gain access to it.
According to the South African authorities and international media such as the BBC, Pistorius is “eligible” to apply for parole after serving half of his sentence, but must participate in a process of “restorative justice”, which offers “a opportunity for the parties to reconcile or apologize. “
The South African Department of Correctional Services confirmed in a statement that a possible meeting with the Steenkamp family was in the works. The family’s attorney, Tania Koen, also announced that they are on track to do so.
“June – Reeva’s mother – has always said that she has forgiven Oscar; however, that does not mean that he should not pay for what he has done. Barry – Reeva’s father – has a struggle with it, but it is something that he will have to express at the appropriate time. The wound, even though it has been so long, is still raw, “Koen told South African broadcaster SABC.
Pistorius, Paralympic champion at the Beijing Games and the first amputee athlete to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, shot Reeva Steenkamp dead in 2013 at his home in Pretoria, claiming he had mistaken her for a thief, shooting four times through of the closed bathroom door.
In September 2014, he was sentenced to five years for involuntary manslaughter, but after the sentence was appealed in 2015, he was found guilty of murder and his sentence was extended to 13 years and five months.