OSCAR Pistorius, the South African Olympics and Paralympics athlete, was released from prison on parole today, 11 years after he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The country’s authorities announced Pistorius’ release today and confirmed that he was in his home having served just over half of his sentence.
According to reports, the 37-year-old double-amputee, who is also known as ‘Blade Runner’, was quietly ushered out from the Atteridgeville prison on the outskirts of Pretoria, avoiding the journalists gathered outside.
“He was admitted into the system of Community Corrections and is now at home,” the department of correctional services said in a statement today.
Pistorius, who was famous for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, will not be allowed to speak to the media as a condition of his parole.
Prison authorities had previously warned the press that there would be no opportunity to photograph or speak to him.
Pistorius killed then 29-year-old model Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013, firing four times through the bathroom door of his Pretoria house.
The shooting came a year after Pistorius made history by being the first double-amputee to compete at Olympic level when he appeared at the London 2012 Games.
He was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial and several appeals.
He had pleaded not guilty and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, claiming that he mistook her for a burglar.
In South African law, offenders are automatically eligible for parole consideration after serving half their sentence.
Pistorius, who won gold medals in athletics at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, lost his first bid for parole in March but it was granted at a second hearing in November.
As part of his parole, until the end of his sentence in 2029, Pistorius must undergo therapy for anger and gender-based violence issues.
He will also be banned from consuming alcohol and other substances, required to complete community service and also be home at certain hours of the day.
