Early release denied for Paralympian convicted of murder

Moscow, March 31 – South African runner Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reva Steenkamp, ​​has been denied early release, Pistorius’ lawyer reports to AFP.

Hearings on the athlete’s application for parole were held on Friday. The decision to refuse was made by a special committee that met at Outridgeville Prison, where Pistorius is serving his sentence.

Pistorius, now 36 years old, on the night of February 14, 2013, killed Stenkamp by firing several shots into a locked toilet door, later explaining his actions by taking it as a burglar. Pistorius was initially convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison in October 2014, but was released early from prison a year later and placed under house arrest. In early December 2015, the South African Supreme Court granted the Attorney General’s Office’s protest and found the athlete guilty of Steenkamp’s premeditated murder. In July 2016, Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison with the right to parole.

However, the South African Attorney General’s Office challenged the ruling, first in the High Court of Pretoria, and after the appeal was rejected, in the Supreme Court of Appeal, which granted the prosecution’s request and sentenced in November 2017 to 13 years and 5 months in prison for first degree murder with Premeditated.

Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee when he was an infant due to a congenital disease. He rose to prominence in the early 2010s when he secured entry for non-disabled athletes. The South African ran on specially designed “blades”. Pistorius is a six-time Paralympic champion. In addition, he is a silver medalist at the 2011 World Championships in the 4x400m relay.