June, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, stated that her family is the one being punished for life as Oscar Pistorius was granted parole and released from prison.
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 shock and disbelief around the globe.
June Steenkamp, along with her late husband Barry, expressed through their family lawyer that justice for Reeva cannot truly be achieved and no amount of time served can bring her back.
In 2013, on Valentine’s Day, Pistorius, an ex-athlete from the Paralympic and Olympic games, fatally shot a 29-year-old model by firing through a locked bathroom door.
He will be subject to correctional supervision until his sentence ends in 2029. Pistorius is expected to live at his uncle’s home in Waterkloof, an upmarket suburb Pretoria, and to attend programmes on gender-based violence and anger management.
He is prohibited from consuming alcohol and must obtain approval for any travel or employment opportunities. This makes it improbable that he will resume his career as a runner in the near future. The specific conditions of his release have not been disclosed.
June Steenkamp stated that those of them left behind are serving a life-long punishment and her sole wish is to be able to live in tranquility.
Previously, she wrote about how the constant media attention added to her sorrow after her daughter was killed. The Steenkamps had to relocate and were almost financially ruined due to legal expenses.
The allure of Pistorius’s fall from grace was incredibly strong, leading a nearby television network to create a new channel solely focused on the details of the case. This fascination was not contained to just South Africa, as reporters from around the globe gathered at the Pretoria high court, causing the legal system to restrict media access in the courtroom.
Mandy Wiener, who co-wrote Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Story, spoke about the overwhelming attention and negative atmosphere surrounding the case on a recent podcast. She explained that the public’s strong emotional investment caused a lot of division on social media, with intense and personal attacks being exchanged.
In 2014, Pistorius was acquitted of murder but found guilty of culpable homicide, which is equivalent to manslaughter. He began serving a five-year prison term.
In October of 2014, he was granted house arrest to finish serving his sentence at his uncle’s residence. However, in December of the same year, the supreme court of appeal reversed the decision made by the lower judge and convicted Pistorius of murder. The court argued that he should have been aware of the potential for causing harm when he discharged the gun.
In 2016, he received a prison sentence of six years, which was shorter than the requested minimum of 15 years by the prosecution. The next year, the supreme court deemed this sentence to be excessively merciful and increased it to 15 years, accounting for time already served.
Last November, a decision was made 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 shocked if he attempts to improve his public image.”
June Steenkamp said the conditions imposed by the parole board had affirmed her belief in the South African justice system as they send out a clear message that gender-based violence was taken seriously.
The release of Pistorius ahead of schedule has brought attention to the larger problem of violence against women in South Africa – a cause that was important to Steenkamp, according to those close to her. Bulelwa Adonis, a representative for the organization Women for Change, expressed concern that releasing Pistorius early could encourage others to commit similar crimes.
Pistorius was one of the most recognisable names in world sport when he fatally shot Steenkamp, a paralegal and model, four times through the bathroom door of their Pretoria home. He was a six-time gold medal winner in the Paralympics, and qualified for the Olympic Games while wearing prosthetic blades – one of only 10 athletes ever to have competed in both competitions.
Pistorius stated that he confused Steenkamp for an intruder, however, following a prolonged trial, a judge did not concur.
He started serving his time at the Kgosi Mampuru maximum security prison in Pretoria. While there, he participated in Bible study classes and was caught on film playing football with another well-known inmate, organized crime leader Radovan Krejčíř. He was eventually transferred to the Atteridgeville correctional centre, which usually houses non-violent offenders but was deemed more suitable for a prisoner with disabilities. In this facility, he had his own cell with a private bathroom and was allowed to tend to a vegetable garden for his own food. According to media reports, he has become less physically fit and has grown a beard during his time in prison.
The living conditions at his uncle’s home, Arnold Pistorius, will be much better. The luxurious three-story mansion is worth approximately R20m (£840,000) and is located in a prestigious neighborhood in South Africa. It features a spacious swimming pool, beautiful gardens, and a tennis court. Pistorius will reside in a cottage on the property. Additional security measures were put in place in preparation for his arrival.
Source: theguardian.com
