Oscar Pistorius’s bid for parole has failed because he applied for it too early in his 13 year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The former Olympic and Paralympic athlete, known as the Blade Runner, had applied for parole on the grounds he had served half of his prison term.
But a parole board spokesperson said the gold medal winner’s bid had been denied because he had not served the required minimum needed for early release.
The South African athlete will have to stay in prison for at least another 16 months and will be able to reapply in August next year.
There have been legal wranglings over when he should be eligible for parole because of a series of appeals in his case and when his sentence started.
He was initially convicted of culpable homicide – similar to manslaughter – in 2014 but after several appeals the conviction was upgraded to murder in 2017 with a term of 13 years and five months.
His lawyers say that sentence started in 2014 – but the parole board says that contradicts a supreme court decision three days ago.
Earlier, Reeva’s mother June Steenkamp told Sky News that Pistorius was “not remorseful or rehabilitated” ahead of the hearing.
Tania Koen, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, told Sky News: “While we welcome today’s decision, today is not a cause for celebration.
“We miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail.”
Pistorius’s lawyer, Julian Knight, said they would appeal the parole refusal.
The 36-year-old is currently serving a 13 year and five month sentence following his conviction for murdering his girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013.
Read more: Who is Oscar Pistorius? From ‘blade runner’ to convicted murdererOscar Pistorius meets with father of murdered partnerOscar Pistorius seeks early release from prison
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June Steenkamp, speaking prior to the parole decision, said it would be ‘difficult to be in the same room’ as the man who shot and killed her daughter.
The athlete started his bid for parole in August last year after claiming he had “done everything in [his] power to rehabilitate”.
A hearing had previously been cancelled because Pistorius had not met Ms Steenkamp’s parents, but in June 2022, the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation confirmed a meeting between Pistorius and the victim’s father Barry had taken place as part of South Africa’s restorative justice programme.
Prior to the murder, Pistorius had been best known for his sporting prowess, winning gold at the London 2012 Paralym and making history as the first double amputee to compete alongside non-disabled athletes in the Olym.
But all that changed on 14 February 2013 when he shot and killed his girlfriend in a bathroom at his home in Pretoria, South Africa.
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A parole board spokesperson confirmed he could reapply for early release in August 2024.
Pistorius has always insisted the shooting was a mistake, saying he thought an intruder was in the house and he feared for his safety.
He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, hitting Ms Steenkamp, 29, in the head, hip and arm.
Pistorius claimed in court it was only when he battered down the door with a cricket bat that he realised who was behind it.
But the prosecution said the murder was premeditated and Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp after an argument.
Pistorius was initially not found guilty of murder and was instead convicted of culpable homicide (the equivalent of a manslaughter charge in the UK).
He was sentenced to five years in 2014, and was eventually released from prison and placed under house arrest.
A year later, that conviction was overturned when South Africa’s supreme court of appeal found him guilty of murder.
He was sentenced to six years – which was then increased to 13 years and five months after the sentence was deemed “shockingly too lenient” in an appeal.
