Oscar Pistorius, the Paralymic sprinter who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend in 2013, has been released from prison today [5 January 2023] on parole after serving over half of his 13-year sentence.
Pistorius, 37, will remain under parole until his sentence concludes in 2029. Although he was not seen leaving the prison facility in Pretoria, South Africa, it is believed that he will now reside at his uncle’s house in the suburb of Waterkloof.
Health & Injuries found guilty of fatally shooting his girlfriend, South African model Reeva Steenkamp, through a bathroom door in his home. Pistorius claimed that he thought she was an intruder and, as such, was initially convicted of manslaughter in 2014. His sentence was then increased after a higher court upgraded the charge to murder.
Steenkamp’s mother released a statement on Friday morning. 'There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back,' she said. 'We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.'
Pistorius, who was born with no fibulas and had both of his feet amputated as a child, is widely known as the 'Blade Runner' because of the prosthetic legs he used on the track. He won six Paralympic gold medals throughout his career and, in 2012, became the first double-leg amputee to compete at the Olympic Games. Here, he made it to the semi-finals of the 400m and ran a leg as part of the South African 4x400m relay team.
Pistorius must remain in the Pretoria area for the duration of his parole and, according to the Department of Correctional Services, must participate in rehabilitation programs and not consume banned substances or alcohol.
