Oscar Pistorius has said he wants to coach children when he exits prison for house arrest, which could happen as soon as August.
Reeva Steenkamp's mother didn't mince words when she told The Citizen of South Africa that Pistorius should not be let out.
Oscar Pistorius wants to coach underprivileged kids when he leaves prison
"I don't think it's a good idea to let him back in society so quickly," said June Steenkamp. "He shot my daughter through that door where she had no space to move or defend herself. One of the bullets blew her brains out; it is disgusting what he did to her ... 10 months is just not enough."
Steenkamp added that she was concerned about the message that would be sent if the double-amputee Olympic sprinter served only 10 months for the Valentine's Day, 2013 shooting of Steenkamp, his girlfriend at the time. He shot her four times through the bathroom door at his house in Pretoria, saying he thought she was an intruder who had broken into the home.
Oscar Pistorius prosecutor Gerrie Nel receives a bomb threat at his home
The victim's mother cited the recent death of Port Elizabeth teacher Jayde Panayiotou, "who was allegedly murdered at her husband's request, and said domestic violence of this nature 'was everywhere.'
"Justice must be done," Steenkamp said. "Otherwise there will be chaos."
South Africa Department of Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela told The Citizen that a Pistorius house-arrest transfer is not automatic.
"This, however, does not mean that an offender will automatically be placed under correctional supervision as various factors will be considered by the CSPB (Correctional Supervision and Parole Board)," said Wolela.
Factors the CSPB uses include input from victims and families, where applicable, the type offense that occurred, the offender's behavior in prison and involvement in development programs, where possible.
June Steenkamp says she has not been contacted for consultation.
Pistorius prosecutors, meanwhile, still await a date to appeal the culpable homicide conviction before the South Africa Court of Appeals. Prosecutors are seeking a murder charge, which carries a minimum of 15 years in prison.
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