Oscar Pistorius is set to be released on parole, despite Reeva Steenkamp’s mother cautioning that he has not turned his life around following the murder.

Oscar Pistorius, the South African athlete convicted of murdering Reeva Steenkamp nearly 11 years ago, is set for parole release in January, as announced by prison authorities. This decision has been met with criticism from Reeva’s mother, June Steenkamp, who doubts Pistorius’ rehabilitation.

Pistorius, who shot Steenkamp four times through a bathroom door in 2013, claimed it was a mistaken identity, thinking she was an intruder, rather than an act of anger. He received a sentence of 13 years and five months.

June Steenkamp expressed her worries about the potential danger to other women following Pistorius’ release. In her victim impact statement, she spoke of the irreplaceable loss of her daughter and how it left an unfillable void in her life.

This statement was also presented outside the parole board meeting by a family spokesperson. In it, June Steenkamp acknowledged forgiving Pistorius but remained skeptical of his account of the incident. She emphasized that true rehabilitation involves fully acknowledging the crime and its impacts, something she believes Pistorius has not done. According to her, without genuine remorse, the risk of reoffending remains high.

June chose not to attend the parole hearing, citing the emotional toll of facing Pistorius again. She also highlighted concerns about his history of violent and aggressive behavior and its implications for women’s safety if not properly addressed during his imprisonment.

‘Blade Runner’

Oscar Pistorius, famously known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, was once celebrated for his participation in the 2012 Olympics. However, he became the focus of a globally followed trial after the killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

Throughout the trial, Pistorius maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to murder and a related firearms charge. Prosecutors, however, contended that Steenkamp’s death was intentional, resulting from an argument between the couple.

Pistorius’ emotional breakdowns were a frequent occurrence in court, and his past actions came under intense scrutiny.

Initially, in 2014, Pistorius was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. This verdict, however, was later overturned by a higher court, which reclassified the conviction to murder in 2015, subsequently increasing his sentence to six years.

The sentence faced criticism for being too lenient, leading to an appeal by prosecutors. In 2017, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal revised Pistorius’ sentence to 13 years and five months.