Oscar Pistorius’s father, Henke, has strongly denied claims that his son murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, more than a decade ago. Instead, the billionaire businessman claims that the former Paralympian was only guilty of manslaughter.
Last year, Oscar was granted parole after serving half of his 13-year and five-month murder sentence behind bars. He will serve the remainder of his sentence under strict surveillance until it expires in 2029.
In 2014, Reeva was shot and killed after the double amputee athlete reportedly mistook her for a home intruder at his Pretoria mansion.
OSCAR PISTORIUS’S DAD: ‘HE IS NOT GUILTY OF MURDER’
Speaking on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show last week, Oscar Pistorius’s dad shared his views about his son’s sentence.
He said, “My opinion has nothing to do with race. It has to do with poor judicial representation and the incompetent and dishonest behaviour of state prosecutors.
“He doesn’t agree with me at all; in fact, he would talk to me about it.
“[Murder and manslaughter] are two vastly big things. Oscar is not guilty of murder”.
Henke went on to accuse state prosecutor Gerrie Nel of “misleading and lying to the court”
Henke also sensationally claimed that a “leading judge in South Africa” approached him with comments echoing his own sentiments.
The mining and property developer said his son Oscar Pistorius has “no intention to kill” as his gun fired only four bullets.
When Piers Morgan argued that four bullets were enough to kill a person – namely Reeva Steenkamp – Henke shot back: “You clearly do not have the facts”.
He added: “It’s a no-brainer”.
When asked what he believed did happen, Henke said: “Oscar was full of fear. He will one day tell his own story. I can’t speak for him.”
However, he continued: “He was forced to accept he is guilty and that he’s a murderer, which is such a pathetic insult to the law in South Africa. He is hurt and broken. He believes he is guilty and it’s not correct.”
FROM MANSLAUGHTER TO MURDER
Oscar Pistorius – who shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 – was convicted of culpable homicide in October 2014. This was later upgraded to murder in December 2015. He was handed a six-year prison sentence.
However, the SCA increased his jail term to 13 years and five months following an unsuccessful appeal in November 2017.
BROTHER CARL: ‘TRAGIC, HONEST MISTAKE’
Like Oscar Pistorius’s dad, Henke, his older brother Carl also does not believe he is guilty of murder.
In 2023, Carl responded to The South African’s questions about Oscar’s sentence and parole bid.
He said, “What is ‘rehabilitation’? What do you mean by ‘served his time’? Such fundamental questions with such complex answers.
He continued: “He [Oscar] was rehabilitated before he went in. He will spend his life serving a self-imposed sentence of guilt for a tragic but honest mistake because we, as a rainbow nation, have failed one another.
“If you’re asking if his constitutional rights have been infringed upon, yes, absolutely.”
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE VIEWS OF OSCAR PISTORIUS’S DAD?
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