Former South African Paralympic star. Oscar Pistorius got out on parole today, almost 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a crime that shocked a country accustomed to violence against women.
Pistorius, nicknamed “Blade Runner” for his carbon fiber prosthetic legs, shot Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, through a closed bathroom door on Valentine’s Day 2013.
He has repeatedly stated that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots in the bathroom of his Pretoria home, and has launched several appeals against his conviction on this basis.
In a statement released by the Steenkamp family’s lawyer, Reva’s mother June said:
There can never be justice if your loved one never comes back and no amount of time given will bring Reeva back. We who are left behind are serving life sentences
Pistorius, 37, spent about eight-and-a-half years in prison and seven months under house arrest before being found guilty of murder. In November, the parole board decided he could be released after serving more than half of his sentence.
South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services said in a brief statement that Pistorius had been granted “parole with effect from 5 January 2024” and was now at home, without specifying where.
Until the end of his sentence in December 2029, he will be monitored by a surveillance officer, to whom Pistorius will have to report if he is seeking employment opportunities or moving to a new address.
Gender violence
Pistorius will also have to undergo anger management therapy and attend classes on gender-based violence as part of his parole conditions, the Steenkamp family said.
June Steenkamp said the parole board’s conditions reaffirmed her confidence in the South African justice system because they sent a clear message that gender-based violence was taken seriously.
Pistorius’ lawyer did not immediately respond to messages or phone calls seeking comment Friday.
From Paralympic star to convicted murderer
Pistorius was once a darling of the sports world and a pioneering voice for disabled athletes, campaigning for them to be allowed to compete against able-bodied participants in major sporting events.
In August 2012, months before he shot his girlfriend, Pistorius became the first double amputee to compete at the London Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals in the 400m.
He won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
(according to information from EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
