Waldo Swiegers/AFP/Getty Images
The former Olympic sprinter shot his partner Reeva Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his home in 2013.
CNN –
Oscar Pistorius will be released on parole in January, prison authorities said Friday, nearly 11 years after the former South African Paralympic sprinter murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his home in 2013. He denied killing her in a fit of rage, saying instead he mistook her for an intruder. He was originally sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison.
Steenkamp’s mother said she doesn’t believe the Olympic sprinter has been rehabilitated, adding that she worries about the safety of other women once he is released on parole.
In a victim impact statement, June Steenkamp said her daughter’s death had left a “massive void” in her life that could not be filled.
Her statement was also read out by a family representative outside a meeting of the South African Parole Board.
In the statement, Steenkamp said that while she had forgiven Pistorius, she did not believe his version of events.
“At this time, I am not convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated,” her statement said.
“Rehabilitation requires that someone honestly confront the full truth of their crime and its consequences. No one can feel remorse unless they are able to fully engage with the truth.
“If someone does not show remorse, they cannot be considered rehabilitated. If they are not rehabilitated, their risk of relapse is high.”
June Steenkamp said she didn’t show up at the parole board hearing on Friday because she “couldn’t muster the energy to face him (Pistorius) again.”
She also raised concerns about his pattern of violent and aggressive behavior.
“I don’t know to what extent this behavior is still present or was evident during his incarceration, but I am concerned for the safety of every woman if this had not been taken into account in his rehabilitation.”
Alon Skuy/The Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images/File
Oscar Pistorius attends his sentencing hearing at the High Court in Pretoria on October 16, 2014.
The athlete – known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon fiber prosthetic legs and once hailed as an inspirational figure after competing in the 2012 Olympics – became the centerpiece of a trial that received worldwide attention.
During the trial, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and one count of firearms in connection with the killing of Steenkamp.
Prosecutors argued that her killing was premeditated and that the shooting occurred after an argument between the couple.
He frequently failed in court and his past behavior came under scrutiny.
Pistorius was convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years in prison. But a higher court overturned the verdict and changed it to murder a year later, increasing his sentence to six years in prison.
The public prosecutor appealed against the verdict because the sentence was too lenient. Pistorius’ prison sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017.
Nimi Princewill and Niamh Kennedy contributed to this report.
This story has been updated.