by
CNN
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Reeva Steenkamp’s parents say they are “still in mourning” for their daughter, 10 years after she was shot and killed by her boyfriend, former South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius.
The former sprinter could apply for parole in March, the South African Broadcasting Corporation said.
“People who have lost children take a long time to settle down and know they won’t be around anymore,” said June Steenkamp during an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Valentine’s Day.
“We love her very much and miss her. Part of our life is gone. We’ll see her one day, but that’s what we hope for.”
Pistorius shot Steenkamp – a model and law graduate – at his home in an upscale Pretoria neighborhood in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
He said the murder was an accident after he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, but the prosecution called it a deliberate act after the two argued.
Pistorius was originally convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years in prison.
A year later, a higher court overturned the conviction and changed it to murder, increasing his sentence to six years.
The prosecution appealed, claiming the sentence was too lenient and the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa increased his sentence to 13 years and five months in 2017.
But that sentence was changed last month because the judges apparently had not counted time served, reported South African News24.
The result: Pistorius could apply for parole next month when he has served half of his sentence, according to South African media.
To become eligible, he had to participate in the country’s “Restorative Justice” process, which gives offenders the opportunity to “acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions.”
Reeva’s father met with Pistorius in prison, telling the GMB, “All June and I wanted to know the truth, what we felt was the truth: that he actually killed her out of anger.”
But Barry Steenkamp says he didn’t get the answers he wanted from the conversation, adding that “only Oscar knows the real story.”
“If he is on parole let the law take its course as long as everything is done legally… I am not against parole taking its course,” he said.
CNN has reached out to Pistorius’ legal representation for comment, but has not received a response.
A spokesperson for the South African Department of Correctional Services told CNN it would provide an update when there were developments to report.
Reeva’s mother launched the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation after her daughter was killed. She seeks to educate and empower victims of violence and abuse.
“After the court case, I just wanted to sit and cry and be upset,” said June Steenkamp. “But then I thought, ‘No, I must do something myself. I can’t sit and cry, I’d rather do something’”.
