Athlete Oscar Pistorius Eligible For Parole After 10 Years In Prison

Parole has been granted to Oscar Pistorius, after serving 1o years of his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The former Paralympic champion was convicted in 2016 for shooting Steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door, asserting he thought she was a burglar. Sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison, he is scheduled for release on parole on January 5, 2024.

The South African Department of Correctional Services has confirmed that Oscar Pistorius is scheduled for release in January as decided by the parole board. Taking to social media to make the announcement, the ministry wrote in a statement:

"The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) confirms parole placement for Mr Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, effectively from 5 January 2024. Mr Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014, but the case went through a number of appeals and was eventually ratified to 13 years and five months in 2017."

After pointing out the importance of parole placement as part of the rehabilitation program to deal with "offending behavior," the ministry explained that authorities would monitor Pistorius until he finished his sentence. The statement partly read:

"Mr Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires."

Reacting to the news, one person wrote, "He served his time shame. Now he can go back to running, continue his career, get a new Reeva, have a family. Life goes on," as a second asked, "Let the man go home, why are you still keeping him until January?," and a third admonished, "Absolute disgrace."

Meanwhile, the first amputee to win a non-disabled world track medal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics is also required to attend therapy sessions.

The claim was made by the Steenkamp family's spokesperson, according to PEOPLE, which also shared that Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, wrote in a letter to the parole board before the hearing.

In the message, she expressed that even though she did not oppose Pistorius' early release, she was worried whether he had genuinely addressed his "huge anger issues" while in jail. She also voiced potential "concern for the safety of any woman" who encounters the now-37-year-old.

The matriarch skipped attending Friday's hearing at Atteridgeville Correctional Facility, stating of her absence, "I simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage."

Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp multiple times through a closed bathroom door on Valentine's Day, 2013, at his Pretoria, South Africa, home. While the double-amputee, affectionately crowned the "Blade Runner," admitted to shooting the law school graduate during his trial, he claimed that he mistook her for a burglar. 

Despite pleading not guilty, prosecutors argued that he intentionally killed the 29-year-old model in a fit of rage.

As The Blast reported, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award winner was denied an early release from prison at the end of March. Explaining why his request was refused, a news release declared:

"The reason provided is that the inmate did not complete the minimum Detention Period as ruled by the Supreme Court of Appeal."

At the time, Pistorius had served only six years of his 13-year sentence, and his deceased girlfriend's mother opposed his release, expressing concerns about his rehabilitation.

She also disclosed her belief that he had not served enough time for the crime against her daughter. When she was asked to speak her address the convict's hopes of being free, she told the court:

"While we welcome today's decision, today is not a cause for celebration. Barry and I miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail."

The family lawyer, Tania Koen, also expressed her opinion about the release denial. She detailed, "I can confirm that parole has been denied. They will reconvene in a year to reconsider him again, and we don't know the reasons yet (for the denial)."

It is worth noting that South Africa's Constitutional Court later ruled that the decision was a mistake, which prompted Pistorius' parole hearing on Friday. The Department of Correctional Services said he would undergo parole reconsideration in August 2024.