Heartbreaking reason Reeva's mum will not attend Oscar Pistorius parole hearing

24 November 2023 , 10:53

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Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Oscar Pistorius is in court today in a bid to be set free from jail as he faces the parole board in South Africa.

The Paralympic athlete is serving 13 years for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp 10 years ago at his home in Pretoria, in a crime and trial that shocked the world. He was jailed for her murder in 2016 and is now seeking parole.

Although Reeva's mum June opposes her daughter's killer being set free, she will not be in court for the hearing today after the death of Reeva's father Barry in September. In a heartbreaking statement she said: "I am not attending Oscar’s parole hearing, as I simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage.

"Barry’s demise had opened the wounds in many ways caused by Reeva’s death. I had forgiven Oscar long ago, as I knew almost instantly that I would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger. ‌I do not believe Oscar’s version that he thought the person in the toilet was a burglar. In fact, I do not know anybody who does.

"My dearest child screamed for her life; loud enough for the neighbours to hear her. I do not know what gave rise to his choice to shoot through a closed door four times at somebody with hollow-point ammunition when I believe, he knew it was Reeva."

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Reeva's parents Barry and June (Independent Newspapers/Antoi/REX)

It is unclear how quickly the parole board will take to decide Pistorius' fate - it could be this afternoon or could be next week. If he is granted parole, he would freed within 30 days. The parole board will consider Pistorius' conduct while in prison, if he still poses a risk to the public and will look at the crime itself too.

Pistorius, now 37, claimed at trial he thought an intruder was present in the house and that Ms Steenkamp was still in bed. He was originally convicted of culpable homicide, but the Supreme Court of Appeal found him guilty of murder. The Supreme Court ruled that Pistorius' account of the night "varied substantially" and that he had "fired without having a rational or genuine fear that his life was in danger".

A previous parole hearing in March collapsed after it was ruled he had not completed the minimum detention period required to be released, but the Constitutional Court found that was a mistake and he now faces a fresh hearing.

Kelly-Ann Mills