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It’s been close to eight years since Oscar Pistorius murdered Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius was originally found guilty of culpable homicide in 2016, and sentenced to six years behind bars.

However, those charges were elevated to murder the following year, with the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA) amending the sentence to 13 years and five months.

When that sentence was handed down, the SCA failed to take into account the more than 500 days Pistorius had already served, which is why the date that he is eligible for parole has now changed.

Below via SABC News:

…Pistorius is now eligible for parole in March 2023. The Supreme Court of Appeal has amended its decision to increase his sentence after it admitted to an error…

Legal journalist Karyn Maughan says, “The SCA now correcting its ruling in a decision that will have significance for both Pistorius and the family of Reeva Steenkamp. I have spoken to their lawyer, they issued a statement basically saying that no one had even made them aware of this and the timing was profoundly unfortunate. You know we are approaching, I think the 7th or 8th year anniversary of Reeva Steenkamp’s death on the 14th of February and so you know this kind of news, this being put back into the public spotlight because of this order by the appeal court is obviously quite painful.”

The Steenkamp family statement says the parole amendment is “profoundly unfortunate”, adding that it could not have come at a worse time, with the anniversary of Reeva’s death just around the corner.

Tania Koen, a legal representative for the family, said the decision had left June and Barry Steenkamp, Reeva’s parents, frustrated and sad.

ESPN’s docuseries, The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius, released last year, has also come under fire for what critics say is a sympathetic portrayal of Pistorius.

[source:sabcnews]