At the time, Oscar Pistorius was comforted by his brother, Carl, during his trial. (Photo: Antoine de Ras/Independent Newspapers/Poland)
Oscar Pistorius’ family is “deeply disappointed” in the parole board’s decision not to release him on parole.
They also do not agree that their son and brother are not yet eligible for parole, as the council argued on Friday.
“According to the South African legal system, prisoners can apply for parole as soon as they have served the minimum detention period and met certain requirements.
“We believe Oscar met all the requirements and do not agree with how the highest court of appeal evaluated the minimum detention period. We will seek clearance,” said a statement by Henke Pistorius, Oscar’s father, as well as his brother and sister, Carl and Aimee Pistorius.
Rhewal used to report the Department of Correctional Services rejected Pistorius’s parole application on Friday, because he apparently did not complete the minimum period of detention.
According to a short memo, Pistorius’ sentence actually began on the day of the Court of Appeal’s ruling in 2017 and not when Pistorius was first sentenced in 2014.
In 2017, the Court of Appeal overturned Pistorius’ initial sentence of six years for murder and replaced it with a sentence of 13 years and five months.
At the time, Aimee Pistorius was comforted by her aunt Lois during the murder trial. (Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/Pool)
The parole board now says this means that Pistorius will not be eligible for parole until August 2024.
However, Pistorius’ family is convinced that he has already served more than half of his sentence and should now be eligible.
“Since October 2014, Oscar has served more than six months under correctional supervision, either in prison or under house arrest.
“Since re-entering the prison system on July 6, 2016, Oscar has served more than 6 years and 9 months. This is more than half of the 13 years 5 months sentence.”
The Pistorius family says the wording of the Court of Appeal’s ruling has caused great confusion and unnecessary tension for all parties involved.
Tania Koen, legal representative of Reeva’s parents, agrees.
“The whole process entailed so much unnecessary trauma for both sides,” Koen said already on Friday.
