Griekwastad killer to remain behind bars
THE INDIVIDUAL convicted of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm Naauwhoek near Griekwastad in 2012 will remain in prison after being denied parole.
In terms of the Criminal Procedures Act and Child Justice Act, he cannot be named as he was 15 years old when the offence was committed.
He has served 10 years of his sentence and is now 28 years old.
He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the brutal killing of Deon, Christel and their 14-year-old daughter Marthella Steenkamp by the Northern Cape High Court in 2014.
He was also convicted of the rape of Marthella, as well as defeating the ends of justice.
The family members were shot multiple times in their heads and bodies and blood was left splattered all over the house in what was initially suspected to be a farm attack.
A family member of the deceased said that she had only learnt about the outcome of the parole hearing in the media.
“We no longer have an interest in the matter and have moved on with our lives,” she said.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo stated that inmates automatically qualified for parole after they had served a minimum required portion of their sentence.
“Inmates do not apply for parole. It is an automatic process that is initiated by the case management committee once an inmate has served the minimum
required time. The inmate is then taken to the parole board,” said Nxumalo.
He explained that if an inmate was not deemed fit for parole placement, he/she was given a further profile, where they would be required to undergo other programmes.
“This is what happened in this case.”
A legal expert believed that parole was denied due to the seriousness of the charges and the lack of remorse displayed by the killer.
“He will be required to attend further rehabilitation and may be considered for parole in the future.”
An advocate pointed out that offenders with “blood on their hands” were prevented from benefiting financially from persons whom they had killed.
“However, an accused person could possibly still inherit indirectly from a trust or from an inheritance bequeathed to them by relatives of the deceased.”