Oscar Pistorius, the former Paralympic star who killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, may be released from prison soon if his parole hearing goes well this week.
The 36-year-old athlete will appear before a panel of experts on Friday, 24 November, who will decide if he qualifies for an early release.
Oscar Pistorius has been serving a 13-year and five-month sentence for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, who he shot on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He claimed that he mistook her for an intruder.
In October, the Constitutional Court upheld Oscar Pistorius’s argument that he had been eligible for parole since March 2023, after completing half of his sentence. His lawyer, Conrad Dormehl, confirmed that he would face a parole board on Friday and said that he had a “good chance” of being granted parole.
However, Dormehl also said that there were many factors that could affect the parole decision, such as the submissions from the victims, the offender and other sources. He said that the parole board would also consider the conditions of parole, such as the date of release and other corrective measures.
Reeva Steenkamp’s family, who have been vocal in opposing Oscar Pistorius’s parole in the past, have decided not to object this time. Their lawyer, Tania Koen, said that they expected the decision and that Reeva’s mother, June, would not make a representation in the process. She said that June was still grieving the loss of her husband, Barry, who died recently. It is not clear if June will attend the parole hearing as she did before.