On Tuesday, June 4th, 2019, the lawyer for the family of Reeva Steenkamp, Tania Koen, announced that they would oppose the parole of Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide in the death of Steenkamp in 2013 and is currently serving a six-year sentence in prison.
The Steenkamp family has been vocal in their opposition to Pistorius’ parole since the beginning of his trial. They have argued that he should serve out his full sentence and that he should not be released early. Koen stated that the family believes that Pistorius has not shown any remorse for his actions and that he should be held accountable for what he did.
Koen also noted that the Steenkamp family is concerned about the message that granting Pistorius parole would send to other victims of violence. She argued that it would be sending a message that violence against women is not taken seriously and that perpetrators can get away with it.
The South African Parole Board is expected to make a decision on Pistorius’ parole in the coming weeks. If granted parole, Pistorius would be released from prison after serving three years of his sentence. However, the Steenkamp family is hoping that the Parole Board will take their wishes into consideration and deny Pistorius parole.
The Steenkamp family has been vocal in their opposition to Pistorius’ parole since the beginning of his trial and they will continue to fight for justice for Reeva. It remains to be seen whether or not the Parole Board will take their wishes into consideration when making their decision.
