South Africa’s parole board ruled on Friday that Oscar Pistorius will remain behind bars after the twice-amputee athlete applied for an early release.
The commission said it denied his request for parole because Pistorius – once nicknamed “The Blade Runner” because of his high-tech prosthetics – was not yet eligible and had not served the required minimum prison term.
Pistorius, 36, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Valentine’s Day 2013 for the murder of his model girlfriend Reva Steenkamp.
He said he believed there was an intruder in the house and said he therefore fired three shots through the bathroom door, killing Steenkamp.
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The Paralympic gold medalist, who also competed at the London 2012 Olympics, has always kept his story alive despite being found guilty of murder.
Ahead of his parole hearing in Pretoria, the victim’s mother, June Steenkamp, told the media she didn’t think Pistorius was “repentant… or exonerated”.
“While they welcome today’s decision, it’s not a celebration for them because they still miss Riva every day, but they’re glad that justice has been served,” Steenkamps’ attorney, Tanya Quinn, told VOA.
The board said Pistorius could apply for parole again in August next year.
Pistorius’ lawyer, Julian Knight, told local media he would “make this decision after consideration”.
