Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison after nine years on Friday, January 5. The former Olympic athlete was granted parole after serving over half of his 13-year prison sentence for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steeenkamp in his home country of South Africa. Oscar had originally made a name for himself as a runner, but his murder trial later became the subject of much media attention.
Oscar was released from the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in South Africa on Friday, according to CNN. He will need to follow parole conditions until 2029, when his sentence is set to finish. Following Oscar’s release, find out more about him and his charges here.
Oscar Competed in Both the Paralympics and the Olympics
Oscar first rose to fame as a professional sprinter. Both of his feet were amputated when he was an infant, but he made a career as a runner. He first started to make a name for himself at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, where he won the final for the 200 metres race. His speed and his prosthetics earned him the nicknames the “Blade Runner” and “the fastest man on no legs.”
In 2005, he competed in his first non-disabled competition. His participation in those races led to disputes with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), with some claiming that his prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage over other runners. He failed to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but he competed in the Paralympics that year. In 2012, he became the first amputee runner to compete in the Summer Olympics.
He Shot and Killed His Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013
Oscar began dating model Reeva Steenkamp in 2012. In the early morning of February 14, 2013, he shot and killed Reeva in his home in Pretoria. He fired at her four times through the bathroom door. She was 29. He has claimed that he believed that she was an intruder in his home, but prosecutors argued that he shot her after an argument, per People.
Before his sentencing, the former runner gave an emotional interview where he spoke about his regret over Reeva’s death with Reelz. “I can smell the blood. I can feel the warmness of it on my hands. And to know that that’s your fault, that that’s what you’ve done,” he said, via People. ” I understand the pain people feel that loved her and miss her. I feel that same pain, I feel that same hate for myself, I feel that same difficulty in understanding this. And I look back and I think – I always think, how did this possibly happen?”
He Was Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison
Oscar had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his initial trial, Oscar was charged with manslaughter in 2014, but prosecutors appealed the decision. A higher court upgraded his charges to murder, and he was sentenced to 13 years and five months in 2017.
He Was Released After Serving 9 Years of His Sentence
Oscar was granted parole in November, per a South African law that allows inmates to apply for parole after serving half of their sentence. He first became eligible in March 2023. During his parole, he will not be allowed to speak to the media, drink alcohol, or leave his home at certain times, according to BBC. His sentence will end in 2029.
Reeva’s mother June Steenkamp released a statement following Oscar’s release, where she said while she understands how he’s eligible for parole, she still mourns her daughter’s murder. “Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence,” she said, according to the BBC. “My only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reeva’s legacy.”