Paralympian Oscar Pistorius Released 3 Years Early From Prison

South Africa's former Paralympic star, Oscar Pistorius, has finally tasted freedom after nearly a decade behind bars for murdering his girlfriend.

He shot Reeva Steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door in 2013, claiming he mistook her for a burglar. However, the former professional sprinter was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 13 years and five months.

After serving ten years of his prison sentence, Pistorius was released on parole with strict conditions — an arrangement Steenkamp's mother welcomed but stressed that no punishment could ever fill the hole of her daughter's absence.

Under South African law, all convicts are entitled to parole under certain conditions and are considered eligible once they have served half their total sentence. Pistorius's early release comes three years shy of completing his 13-year and five-month term.

But leaving his prison cell did not automatically grant the double-amputee athlete complete freedom. As stated, he will live under strict conditions, with most of his time spent indoors until his sentence expires in 2029.

For specific hours of the day, Pistorius will be confined in his home, where he is not allowed to speak to the media or consume alcohol. He must also attend therapy to deal with issues relating to gender-based violence and anger.

Following his release, the former Olympic gold medalist is believed to have sought refuge at his uncle's home, per BBC. His relative reportedly lives in an upmarket suburb in Pretoria. It is still being determined if this is where Pistorius plans to live out the remainder of his sentence.

While Pistorius figures out his life, he owes part of his early release to his late girlfriend's mother, June. In a statement, the Steenkamp matriarch noted that she accepted the decision to release her daughter's killer since her family had "always known that parole is part of the South African legal system."

She heartily welcomed the strict conditions placed on Pistorius and noted that the "law must take its course." Despite accepting these terms, June stressed that nothing could ever make her daughter's absence right. In her words:

"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 continued, "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."

Before his release, the South African Department of Correctional Services announced that Pistorius would be granted parole in November 2023. They noted that he was released early after a parole board reviewed his case.

They dropped the news via a statement on social media, writing: "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," their statement continued.

The correctional services department stressed the importance of parole placement as part of the rehabilitation program to deal with "offending behavior." They also noted authorities would keep an eye on Pistorius until he finished his sentence, writing:

"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."

The news evoked fans' sympathy, with many calling for Pistorius to be released sooner. "Let the man go home, why are you still keeping him until January?" Someone wondered, while another penned: "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."

Additionally, sources noted Pistorius's parole conditions included therapy because his late girlfriend's mother had expressed concerns about his "huge anger issues." In a letter to the parole board, June noted she was worried about the "safety of any woman" who would encounter her daughter's killer after his release.