Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole and will remain behind bars for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The former Olympian and Paralympian has currently served half of his 13-year sentence after being found guilty of fatally shooting his model girlfriend on Valentine's Day in 2013.
During his trial, the now-36-year-old Pistorius claimed that he had mistaken his girlfriend for a burglar at his Pretoria home, which led to him shooting her through a bathroom door.
He had described the killing as a "tragic accident" and had previously sought manslaughter charges.
In the highly publicized 2014 trial, Pistorius was handed a five-year term for manslaughter. However, on appeal in 2015, he was found guilty of murder, and his sentence was increased to 13 years and five months.
June Steenkamp - Reeva's mother - told reporters today (via BBC News): "I don't believe his story. I don't believe Oscar is remorseful… or rehabilitated."
Tania Koen (the Steenkamps' lawyer) said: "For them, it's 10 missed birthdays, it's 10 Mother's Days, Father's Days, Christmases - so time hasn't healed for them [...] They don't feel that he should be released."
According to correctional services, Pistorius did not complete the minimum Detention Period as ruled by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
He will be allowed to submit for parole again in a year's time.
In an attempt to be granted an early release, Pistorius attended a meeting with Steenkamp's father last year as part of South Africa's restorative justice program. This gives crime victims the chance to meet with offenders before they become eligible for parole.
The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation wrote about the meeting on their Facebook page, stating: "We extend our love and support to Barry and June who participated in the process in preparing them for a meeting with Oscar Pistorius.
"Barry ultimately met with Oscar on 22 June 2022 for the Victim Offender Dialogue. A word of sincere gratitude to the Department of Correctional Services, especially the staff at St Alban's Prison, for facilitating the process in a sensitive and professional manner."
