Convicted killer Oscar Pistorius will not be freed early from his 13-year prison sentence for shooting dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
South African Paralympic champion Pistorius murdered Ms Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, firing four times through the bathroom door of his ultra-secure Pretoria house, in a killing that shocked the world.
A parole hearing took place at a correctional facility on the outskirts of the capital where the 36-year-old is being held.
The board rejected Pistorus’ application for parole – meaning he now faces another seven years behind bars.
He will be eligible to apply for parole again in August 2024.
Tania Koen, a lawyer representing Reeva’s family, said the result was a “huge sense of relief” for mum June, who attended the hearing.
Pistorius was denied parole as he “did not complete the minimum Detention Period”, the Department of Correctional Services confirmed.
The board cited a new clarification on Pistorius’ sentence that was issued by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal three days ago.
Since Pistorius was jailed, there has been legal wrangling over when he should be eligible for parole because of a series of appeals in his case.
Known worldwide as the Blade Runner for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial and several appeals.
He had pleaded not guilty and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.
Prisoners in South Africa are automatically eligible for parole consideration after serving half of their sentence.
Pistorius has served more than half, having started his term in 2014.
Pistorius met with Steenkamp’s parents last year, part of a process that authorities say aims to ensure inmates “acknowledge the harm they have caused to their victims and the society at large”.
Koen described the meeting as “very emotional” and “traumatic”.
A year before killing Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double amputee to race in the Olympics, competing at the 2012 London Games.
He became a household name worldwide and courted by sponsors, but it all came crashing down after the killing.
