Lawyer Tania Koen stated in a textual content message that Pistorius and Barry Steenkamp met face-to-face on June 22 as half of what’s recognized in South Africa as a victim-offender dialogue.
This provides victims of crimes or their family an opportunity to fulfill with the offenders, in the event that they select to, earlier than the offender may be eligible for parole.
South African former monitor star Oscar Pistorius has met with the daddy of Reeva Steenkamp, the lady he killed in 2013, as a part of his parole course of, the Steenkamp’s household lawyer stated.
Ms Koen confirmed the assembly, however declined to present any extra particulars. She wrote in her message: “The dialogue is a non-public and confidential matter, therefore we ask that our shoppers’ privateness be revered.”
Pistorius, as soon as a double-amputee monitor star who made historical past by working on the Olympics, grew to become eligible for parole final 12 months, eight years after killing his girlfriend in his dwelling within the South African capital, Pretoria.
Pistorius, who’s now 35, was finally convicted of homicide in 2015 after an extended and dramatic trial and quite a few appeals. He was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in jail.
He has served most of his sentence at a jail in Pretoria however was moved to a facility within the southern metropolis of Gqeberha, the Steenkamps’ dwelling city, forward of the assembly with Barry Steenkamp.
A parole listening to for Pistorius was scheduled for final 12 months but it surely was cancelled as a result of he had not but met with Steenkamp’s dad and mom.
In South Africa, these convicted of a critical crime should serve not less than half their sentence earlier than they’re eligible for parole.
Pistorius had already served time in jail after being initially convicted of culpable murder — a cost much like manslaughter — earlier than an attraction by prosecutors resulted in that being overturned and him being convicted of homicide.
Pistorius should nonetheless attend a parole listening to, the place division of corrections officers will resolve if he needs to be launched early.
