Pistorius claims victim’s parents delaying hearing
Oscar Pistorius’ parole is being ‘‘unfairly’’ stalled by the failure of his victim’s parents to meet him face to face in what could be a ‘‘deliberate attempt to punish him and frustrate the process’’, his lawyer said.
The Olympian and Paralympian sprinter has served more than half of a 13-year sentence for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013 and is eligible for early release with conditions set by the prison authorities.
In November he was moved 1200 kilometres to a maximum-security jail close to Barry and June Steenkamp for a ‘‘victimoffender dialogue’’ that precedes a parole hear- ing. Five months later they have still to agree on an arrangement, Julian Knight, the athlete’s lawyer, said.
‘‘My client has been taken away from his support structures to accommodate the Steenkamps but has been met by one delay after another. The question can be asked whether this is being done to punish my client, to deliberately frustrate the parole process,’’ Knight said, adding that he would apply to the court to compel the prison authorities to convene a parole hearing. ‘‘Oscar Pistorius has a squeaky-clean prison record and meets all the requirements for parole.’’
Steenkamp, 29, died when Pistorius, now 35, fired four times through a locked bathroom door at his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s Day. He testified that he had mistaken her for an intruder.
He was found guilty of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to six years in prison. A year later, on appeal, his conviction was upgraded to murder with a term of 13 years and five months.
While the Steenkamps’ views are taken into consideration by the parole board, they are not a
deciding factor and a victim-offender dialogue is not mandatory.
Parole is not something a prisoner applies for; the board reviews recommendations by a social worker, prison bosses and a psychologist.
Tania Koen, the Steenkamps’ lawyer, has questioned whether the court’s calculations were correct and whether Pistorius was even eligible to be considered for release.
She confirmed that ‘‘the Steenkamps are still seeking a meeting’’ with their daughter’s killer.
Knight said he had last spoken to Pistorius two weeks ago and there was ‘‘an understandable element of frustration’’. –