Former South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who competed in both the Olympics and Paralympics, was ordered released from prison on Friday, more than 10 years after he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at her home.
Pistorius is now due to be released from a South African prison on January 5, after the court confirmed that he has served the required time that makes him eligible.
Pistorius was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison in 2016 for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Pistorius, 37, was found guilty in September 2014 of culpable homicide after he shot South African model Steenkamp four times in the early hours of February 14, 2013. Pistorius claimed he shot Steenkamp while knocking on the bathroom door in the middle of the night. She was an intruder.
A parade of convictions and appeals hearings took place over the following years. He was sentenced to only five years in prison for culpable homicide, but the country’s Supreme Court overturned the culpable homicide charge in November 2015 and convicted him of murder. But given just six years for murder, prosecutors appealed and he was convicted. The latter was sentenced to 15 years in prison with less time served.
After serving half of his sentence, Pistorius became eligible for parole in early 2023, however, on March 31, he was denied parole.
He was next eligible for parole in August 2024. However, according to The Associated Press, Pistorius’ lawyers appealed the decision, saying the board did not take into account the 16 months he spent in prison between July 2016 and November 2017.
MORE: South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius denied parole over girlfriend’s murder
When her parole was denied, the Steenkamp family said in a statement: “Although we welcome today’s decision, today is not cause for celebration. We miss Reeva deeply and will for the rest of her life.” We will continue. Do so. We believe in justice and hope it prevails.”
Steenkamp’s family lawyer Tina Koen told reporters before Pistorius’ first parole hearing that Steenkamp’s mother “doesn’t feel that he has been rehabilitated and that he has not told the truth” and should not be released.
Pistorius, who was born with a birth defect that required the amputation of both legs below the knee, ran in the 2012 Summer Olympics with prosthetics. He finished second in his 400 m heat, but did not advance beyond the semi-finals. He also ran in the 4 x 400m relay, where the South African team finished eighth.
He is a six-time Paralympic gold medalist.
