Pretoria, South Africa – Oscar Pistorius, the disgraced Olympian, has been released on parole after serving almost nine years for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, now 37 years old, was granted parole in November and is now subject to parole conditions until his sentence officially ends in 2029.
This release comes almost 11 years after the night Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp at his home on Valentine’s Day in 2013. The double-amputee sprinter, who rose to international stardom as a Paralympic champion, will have to complete community service and attend programs on violence against women and anger management as part of his parole conditions.
Steenkamp’s mother, June, accepted the law but expressed her grief, stating, “There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back.” She also emphasized her desire to continue the legacy of the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.
At his televised trial, Pistorius claimed he had mistakenly believed Reeva Steenkamp was an intruder hiding in his bathroom when he fired at her through the bathroom door. However, prosecutors argued that he had deliberately killed the 29-year-old model and law graduate in a late-night argument.
Initially convicted of culpable homicide, Pistorius was eventually found guilty of murder and had his sentence increased. Now, he will have to adjust to life outside prison while continuing to live under the regulations of his parole.
In summary, Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole after serving almost nine years for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He will now have to adhere to parole conditions until 2029, including community service and programs on violence against women and anger management.