Parole board set to decide on Pistorius parole ‘before end of Friday’
The lawyer representing June and Barry Steenkamp says the parole board is expected to make a decision on the release of Oscar Pistorius before the end of Friday.
The parole hearing of Pistorius, who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013, was heard in Pretoria this morning.
The disgraced Paralympian is eligible for parole after serving more than half of his 13-year sentence for murder.
Tania Koen, who represents the Steenkamps, says June provided written and oral representations at the parole hearing of her daughter’s killer.
Legal expert Elton Hart says the board will consider a number of factors before making a decision on Pistorius’ fate.
“A number of things like Pistorius' behaviour and impact on the victim's family will be taken into consideration before he will be regarded eligible for parole.”
“It could (normally) take three to four weeks for the decision to be taken as there are also concerns regarding Pistorius' safety. We know there was a lot of public outcry when he was first sentenced and there were comments that he is getting a special treatment.”
Hart says Pistorius' chances of getting parole are high as there have been no reports of bad behaviour and since he has served half of his sentence.
But Koen says Reeva's family believes Pistorius needs to come clean on the event of the night their daughter died, otherwise they do not consider him to be rehabilitated.
ALSO READ:
