Oscar Pistorius seeks parole a decade after girlfriend's death

Oscar Pistorius, the former Paralympic champion, has made another attempt for early release from prison in South Africa, where he is currently serving a 13-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria 10 years ago, causing a shockwave worldwide. The parole hearing is taking place at Atteridgeville prison near Pretoria. Notably, Steenkamp's mother, June, has not objected to his parole and will not be present at the hearing. Instead, a victim impact statement from her will be read to the parole board. Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry, passed away in September. The parole board will consider various factors such as Pistorius's conviction, his conduct in prison, and the potential risk he poses to the public. If parole is granted, a release date will be set. Reeva Steenkamp was a successful 29-year-old law graduate and model. She was fatally shot by Pistorius, firing four shots through the door of a bathroom cubicle in his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day in 2013. Pistorius claimed he believed an intruder was present and that Steenkamp was still in bed. Initially convicted of culpable homicide, Pistorius was later found guilty of murder in 2015 by the Supreme Court of Appeal. The court determined that Pistorius's account of the incident significantly differed from the evidence and concluded that he had shot without a rational or genuine fear for his life. The judges described the case as a "human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions." Pistorius's first parole hearing in March was canceled as he had not completed the minimum required detention period for release. However, the mistake was rectified last month when the Constitutional Court intervened, leading to the current hearing. Pistorius, who had both his lower legs amputated at a young age, gained fame as a world-renowned athlete known as the 'blade runner' due to his success at the Paralympics. He also competed against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics. The murder of Reeva Steenkamp and subsequent legal proceedings captivated international attention.