Former South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius walked out of prison on Friday, discreetly avoiding the eye of the cameras, and is “now home” on parole, almost eleven years after the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The 37-year-old former athlete and double-leg amputee convicted of murder in a case that enthralled the world and who has served more than half his sentence, left Atteridgeville prison on the outskirts of the capital Pretoria early this morning. “He has been admitted to the community corrections system and is now at home,” said the prison administration in a statement, confirming that his release on parole is now effective.
Neither the time nor the logistical details had been communicated in advance by the authorities, who cited “security” reasons. The six-time Paralympic champion is forbidden to speak to the media.
On the night of February 13–14, 2013, Oscar Pistorius killed 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through her bedroom bathroom door in his ultra-secure Pretoria home. A year earlier, the sportsman had become a legend by competing with the able-bodied in the 400-meter race at the London Olympics, a first for a double amputee.
After several appeals and a crude reading of the victim’s autopsy report, which caused the accused to vomit, he was finally sentenced in late 2017 to 13 years and five months’ imprisonment for murder.
Under South African law, a convicted offender is eligible for sentence adjustment once half of his sentence has been served. At the end of November, the prison administration announced the early release of Oscar Pistorius.
As part of his conditional release until the end of his sentence in 2029, Oscar Pistorius must undergo anger management therapy and a program on violence against women. He is not allowed to consume alcohol. He must also perform community service, but he must be present at a designated home in a Pretoria suburb at certain times of the day.