Oscar Pistorius at the time during his murder trial. (Photo: Mike Hutchings/Reuters/Pool (SAPA))
Reeva Steenkamp’s parents will oppose Oscar Pistorius’ application for parole today.
The former Paralympic athlete’s long-awaited parole hearing takes place on Friday around 10:00 at the Atteridgeville prison in Pretoria, where Pistorius is serving his prison sentence.
No media will be allowed to attend the hearing.
This will be the first time in seven years that June Steenkamp sees Pistorius face to face, Tania Koen, legal representative of June and her husband, Barry, confirmed to Rhewal this morning.
June will make representations to the parole board during the hearing. However, Barry cannot travel due to ill health and will therefore not attend the hearing.
Barry recently saw Pistorius as part of a dialogue process between victims and perpetrators, report the BBC.
The parole board which decides on Pistorius’ fate today will consist of at least three officials and will consider statements from Pistorius, the Steenkamps and various social workers and prison officials.
June Steenkamp at the time during the murder trial. (Photo: Masi Losi/Pretoria News/Pool (SAPA))
Pistorius’ behaviour, state of mind and the extent to which he has been rehabilitated will all be expected to be considered today as well.
If he is granted parole, Pistorius can be released within days.
He is expected to then stay with his uncle and aunt, Arnold and Lois Pistorius, in Pretoria. The couple assisted Pistorius throughout the murder trial.
However, the fact that the Steenkamps oppose parole could delay Pistorius’ release by months.
“I think he probably has an arguable case [vir parool],” said Mannie Witz, a defense lawyer, in the run-up to the parole hearing BBC said.
If parole is refused, Pistorius has the right to approach the courts for a review of the decision.
Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013 in his home in Pretoria when he fired four shots through the bathroom door.
He was initially sentenced to six years in prison, but this sentence was extended by the Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein after the state appealed against Pistorius’ sentence.
Pistorius denies that he deliberately killed Reeva and maintains that he mistook her for a burglar that night.
