June, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, stated that her family is the one being punished for life now that Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole.
On Friday, Pistorius was released from prison in Pretoria, South Africa after serving a nine-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Steenkamp. This crime caused widespread shock and disbelief.
“Has Reeva received justice? Has Oscar served an adequate sentence? True justice cannot be achieved if a loved one will never return, and no amount of time served can bring back Reeva,” stated June Steenkamp in a message released by the family’s attorney, representing both herself and her deceased husband, Barry.
On Valentine’s Day in 2013, Pistorius, a previous Paralympic and Olympic competitor, fatally shot a 29-year-old model through a locked bathroom door.
Pistorius will undergo correctional supervision until his sentence expires in 2029. He is anticipated to reside at his uncle’s residence in the affluent area of Waterkloof in Pretoria, where he will participate in programs focusing on gender-based violence and anger management.
He will be prohibited from consuming alcohol and must obtain authorization for any travel or job opportunities, making his prompt return to the running track unlikely. The specific conditions of his probation have not been disclosed.
“I am one of those left behind, serving a life sentence,” June Steenkamp stated, expressing her only wish to live in peace.
In the past, she discussed the added difficulty of coping with her loss due to the constant media attention surrounding her daughter’s death. The Steenkamps were forced to relocate and faced financial struggles due to the expenses of legal proceedings.
The attention surrounding Pistorius’s downfall was so strong that a television channel solely focused on the details of the case was created by a local broadcaster. This interest extended beyond South Africa, with reporters from various countries gathering at the high court in Pretoria. As a result, the judiciary had to restrict the number of media personnel allowed in the courtroom.
Mandy Wiener, one of the authors of Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Story, commented on a podcast that the story generated a lot of attention and became quite contentious. She noted that people were heavily invested in the story and expressed extreme opinions on social media, often resorting to aggressive and personal attacks.
In 2014, Pistorius was found not guilty of murder but guilty of culpable homicide, which is similar to manslaughter. He was then sentenced to five years in prison.
In October 2014, he was granted house arrest for the remainder of his sentence at his uncle’s residence. However, in December of the same year, the supreme court of appeal reversed the lower judge’s decision and convicted Pistorius of murder, stating that he should have anticipated the potential of causing harm when he discharged his weapon.
In 2016, he received a prison sentence of six years, which was significantly shorter than the 15-year minimum requested by the prosecution. The next year, the supreme court deemed this sentence to be too lenient and increased it to 15 years, with credit for time already served.
In November of last year, it was decided to grant him parole.
The Department of Prisons announced on Friday that Pistorius will not be allowed to communicate with the press. Wiener stated, “I believe he will maintain a very low profile. I would be surprised if he attempts to improve his public image.”
June Steenkamp stated that the parole board’s conditions have reinforced her faith in the South African legal system, as they communicate a strong stance against violence towards women.
The early release of Pistorius has brought attention to the larger problem of violence against women in South Africa. This was a cause that was important to Steenkamp, as stated by her loved ones. Bulelwa Adonis, a representative for the advocacy organization Women for Change, expressed concern that releasing Pistorius early could send a detrimental message to those who may commit similar offenses.
Pistorius gained widespread fame in the sports world after he tragically shot Steenkamp, a paralegal and model, four times through the bathroom door of their home in Pretoria. He achieved six gold medals in the Paralympics and was also able to qualify for the Olympic Games while utilizing prosthetic blades, making him one of just 10 athletes to ever participate in both events.
Pistorius asserted that he had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder, however, following a lengthy trial, a judge disagreed.
He started his term at the Kgosi Mampuru maximum security prison in Pretoria. During his time there, he participated in Bible study and was seen playing football with Radovan Krejčíř, a well-known criminal. He was eventually transferred to the Atteridgeville correctional centre, typically reserved for non-violent offenders, but deemed more suitable for accommodating a prisoner with disabilities. He had a private cell with a bathroom and was able to grow his own food in a vegetable patch. According to media reports, he has lost physical fitness and grown a beard during his time in prison.
The situation at his uncle’s residence, Arnold Pistorius, which is a luxurious three-story house valued at approximately R20m (£840,000), will be a considerable upgrade. The expansive property, situated in a prestigious neighborhood in South Africa, features a spacious swimming pool, beautifully designed gardens, and a tennis court. Pistorius will reside in a cottage on the mansion’s grounds. Additional security measures were put in place in preparation for his move-in.
Source: theguardian.com
