Oscar Pistorius to remain behind bars as parole board rejects application

Oscar Pistorius to remain behind bars as parole board rejects application

Convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole. 

South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius leaves the Pretoria High Court
Photo by MUJAHID SAFODIEN / AFP

This was confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services on Friday afternoon. 

The parole hearing of Pistorius, who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013, was heard in Pretoria this morning. 

READ: Parole board set to decide on Pistorius parole 'before end of Friday'

The disgraced Paralympian was thought to be eligible for parole after serving more than half of his 13-year sentence for murder. 

But the department said in a statement that he did not complete the detention period ruled by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

"A particular decision which was largely guided by clarification order from the supreme court which stated that Mr Pistorius has not yet reached the minimum detention period," says Correctional Service spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo. 

ALSO READ: Steenkamp parents to oppose Pistorius parole

"When the parole board went through that, they then gave him what we call a further profile for August 2024, meaning that he will have to appear again next year and they will then look into the profile and make a decision in terms of his placement.

"But for now, it was a matter of saying he has not served the minimum detention period. In simple English, half of the sentence is yet to be served."

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