Razeen Gutta
Oscar Pistorius, who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013, has now met with her parents as part of victim-offender-dialogue (VOD).
After being convicted in 2015, the former paralympian is now eligible for parole having served more than half of his 13-year sentence.
The 35-year-old was transferred to a prison in Gqebera, the hometown of the Steenkamp’s, late last year to begin the VOD process.
The correctional services department announced on Friday that Pistorius would be transported back to his Gauteng facility now that these meetings have taken place.
“There is a need to emphasise that inmates are required to partake in the VOD as part of their rehabilitation path, wherein they are able to acknowledge the harm they have caused to their victims and the society at large,” spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.
The department has confirmed however, that Pistorius would continue his sentence at the original centre since participation in the process “does not equate to an end of sentence, nor parole placement.”
Instead, the process was launched as a stepping stone in the rehabilitation process to help offenders get re-integrated into society.
Image source: @TIME
