Oscar Pistorius Appeals for Parole to Constitutional Court

Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has taken his quest for parole to the Constitutional Court.

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Pistorius’ conviction stems from the tragic incident in which he shot Steenkamp through the bathroom door of his Pretoria East home on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Despite being behind bars, Pistorius has persistently sought parole through multiple unsuccessful bids, with his most recent attempt in March falling short due to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) determining that he remains ineligible at this point as reproted by 702.

Despite this setback, Pistorius maintains his eligibility for parole and insists that he meets the criteria for consideration. The legal complexities of his case have unfolded over the years. Originally sentenced to six years for Steenkamp’s murder in 2016, the SCA later increased his sentence to an effective 13 years and five months on appeal in 2017.

The timeline of Pistorius’ parole eligibility has been a point of contention. The understanding was that his sentence commenced in 2016 when the initial verdict was issued, making him potentially eligible for parole in March of a certain year. Consequently, a parole hearing was scheduled accordingly. However, the situation turned when the SCA clarified that Pistorius’ sentence only began in 2017 when the final judgment was pronounced. This revision pushed his parole eligibility to a later date, resulting in the denial of his application.

In his recent submission to the Constitutional Court, Pistorius argues that his prison sentence and the subsequent extension of his parole eligibility have been unjustly altered. He contends that this situation is “clearly incorrect” and “untenable,” leading to his continued incarceration without due cause. Pistorius asserts that this situation infringes upon his fundamental rights.

In essence, the intricacies of Pistorius’ case underscore his determination to seek parole and raise concerns about the fairness of his extended prison term. The matter now rests with the Constitutional Court to consider Pistorius’ claims’ legal and ethical dimensions.

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Photo: Facebook / @Oscar Pistorius – Paralympic Athlete