South Africa's 'blade runner' Oscar Pistorius, sentenced for killing his girlfriend, released on parole
South Africa's ex-Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius released from prison
On Friday (Jan 5), South Africa's ex-Olympic runnerOscarPistorius wasreleased from prison on parole,almost 11 years after he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door on Feb 13, 2013.
Pistorius,known as the 'Blade Runner', became eligible for parole in March 2023 after serving half of his 13 years and five months sentence for killing his girlfriend. It is to be noted that hewill not be allowed to speak to the media on account ofthe parole condition.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OSCAR PISTORIUS ON RELEASE FROM PRISON?
It is to be noted that South Africa's Department of Correctional Services (DCS) made it clear, in November 2023, that the tainted ex-Olympic runnerwill complete the remainder of his sentence in the African nation's community corrections system. Thus, Pistoriuswillbe underDCS'supervision. Hewill be subjected to parole conditions until his sentenceends five years later, in December 2029.
Notably, he will also be assigned a monitoring official. The official willbe notified in advance regarding whenPistorius is seeking job opportunities or moving homes.
As part of the conditions of the parole, 37-year-oldPistorius willalso attend various programmes focusing on gender-based violence. In addition, his therapy sessionson anger management (as claimed by a lawyer for the Steenkamp family) will continue.
As a Paralympian, Pistorius achieved some notable feats in his career.He is aParalympic gold medalist in 200m, claiming three more gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Games and becoming the first double amputee to compete at the 2012 London Games. However, his life turned upside down after killing his girlfriend in early 2013.