Oscar Pistorius parole: EXPLAINED! What will happen to former Paralympic star once released from jail

Former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is set to bereleased from prison on Friday (Jan 5), onbeing granted parolenearly 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Pistorius, widely known as the 'Blade Runner', became eligible for parole last year in March after serving half of his 13 years and five months sentence for the murder of his girlfriend. On Feb 14, in 2013, he shot his girlfriendReeva through the locked bathroom door.

As soon as the news broke out about Pistorius being responsible for the death ofReeva, it shocked the entire sporting fraternity. He was taken into custody and the tainted athlete commenced his imprisonment in late 2014.

HERE IS WHATWILL HAPPEN TO OSCARPISTORIUS ONRELEASE -

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It is to be noted that South Africa's Department of Correctional Services (DCS) claimed, in November 2023, that Pistorius will complete the remainder of his sentence in the country's community corrections system. Thus, the former Paralympic star willbe underDCS' strict supervision. In addition, hewill be subjected to parole conditions until his sentence eventually endsin December 2029.

Notably, he will be assigned a monitoring official. The official,in turn, will also be informed in advance regarding whenPistorius is seeking job opportunities or moving homes.

As part of the conditions, the 37-year-oldPistorius willhave to attend various programmes focussing on gender-based violence and also continue with his therapy sessions on anger management (as claimed by a lawyer for the Steenkamp family). The tainted paralympic star is expected to reside in Pretoria after release.

WHAT FACTORS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNTFOR HIS EARLY RELEASE?

Pistorius' case became a huge talking point worldwide. Since his jail term kicked off, severalfactors were taken into consideration which eventually led to his early release; such asthe nature of the crime, the possibility of reoffending, overall conduct in prison, physical and mental well-being and potential threats a prisoner might face on release.

Pistorius also took part in the restorative justice programme -- i.e. a system which came into the picture only after apartheid's end to deal with apartheid-era crimes in a more engaging and progressive way. Hewas moved to a prison closer to where the Steenkamp family was put in late 2021 before the reconciliation talks kicked off for apotential early release.

He and the late Barry Steenkamp - Reeva's father - even engaged in the victim-offender dialogue two years back on June 22.

HOW PISTORIUS TURNED FROM A CHAMPION TO A MURDERER:

• 2004 Athens Games – Oscar became a Paralympic gold medalist in200m.
• 2008 Beijing Games – He went on to winthree more gold medals, raising his stature.
• 2012 London Games – Oscar became the first double amputee to compete at the Summer Games.
• 2013 – On Feb 14, all hell broke loose ashe shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, four times via the locked bathroom door.
• 2013 – Feb 15 – Pistorius made heads turn as he was chargedin a murder case by Pretoria court.
• 2014 – Sep 12 – A high court judge convicted underculpable homicide.
• 2014 – Oct 21 - The paralympic star beganhisfive-year jail sentence.
• 2015 – Aug 19 – South Africa’s justice minister blockedhis expected release on parole after he served 10 months in jail.
• 2015 – Oct 19 – Pistorius was released to house arrest to serve the remainder of his sentence at his uncle’s home in Pretoria.
• 2015 – Dec 3 – The Supreme Court of Appeal found him guilty of murdering his girlfriend.
• 2016 – Jun 6 – The Olympic athlete was sentto jail for six years.
• 2017 – Nov 24 – Pistorius dealt a huge blow after the Supreme Court doubledhis jail time to 13 years and five months, admitting to the state prosecutor’s argument that the original term was very'lenient.’
• 2023 – Mar 31 – Prison authorities didn't allow his parole on grounds thatPistorius did not serve the minimum detention period.
• 2023 – Oct – The Constitutional Court claimed that hehad completed half his sentence by Mar 21, 2023;enablinghim to applyfor parole.
• 2023 – Nov 23 – The Department of Correctional Services granted Pistorius' earlyrelease, effective from Jan 5, 2024.

LISTING PISTORIUS'GLORIOUS HIGHS BEFORE HE TURNED INTOA CRIMINAL:

-- 1xWorld Championships silver medallist
-- 1xIn Top 8 at Olympic Games.
-- 2xAfrican Championships Silver medallist.
-- 2xNational champion.

Pistorius turned from hero to a murderer in a flash in 2013 after being framed formurder. While he has worked on himself in prison, after committing an unforgiving crime, the paralympic athlete's life has certainly turned upside down with only himself to blame. After his release, he will be monitored by the DCS as well as the whole sporting fraternity.

Irrespective of his conduct from now on, it is safe to claim that hisimage has been heavily tarnishedand might neverbe restored in his remaining lifetime.