Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, was granted freedom from prison on Friday, almost ten years after shocking the world by shooting and murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Because Pistorius had completed half of his 13-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp, he was eligible for release under South African law, and a parole board granted his plea in November.
Pistorius was freed on Friday morning from the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, which is located west of Pretoria, according to Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in South Africa. Up until his sentence finishes in 2029, he will be subject to parole restrictions.
Following Pistorius’ release, Steenkamp’s mother stated in a statement on Friday that all she wanted was to be able to spend the rest of her life “in peace.”
June Steenkamp said, “If your loved one is never coming back, then there can never be justice, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back.” “Those who are in service
a life sentence is us, the ones left behind.”
On February 14, 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through a barred toilet door at his Pretoria home. Prosecutors said that he killed her during a Valentine’s Day dispute out of rage, but he has maintained that he killed her because he thought she was an intruder.
Pistorius entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of murder and a crime related to guns during the trial, which attracted international attention.
In 2014, he was first found guilty of manslaughter and given a five-year sentence. However, a year later, a higher court reversed the verdict and increased it to murder, resulting in a six-year jail sentence.
Prosecutors challenged the decision, arguing that the penalty was excessively light. The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa increased Pistorius’ sentence to 13 years and 5 months in 2017.
Due to a statute that grants release to prisoners who have completed half of their term and satisfy requirements including good behavior, Pistorius was granted parole in March 2023. The measure falls under the nation’s “Restorative Justice” framework, which offers criminals the chance to “acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions.”
Pistorius will serve out the balance of his sentence in the nation’s community correctional system, according to the DCS.
According to Reuters, which quoted the Steenkamp family’s attorney, he will have to continue his anger management treatment sessions and attend programs on gender-based violence.
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“General parole conditions” will remain in place, according to a statement released by the DCS on Wednesday. One such requirement is that Pistorius must stay at home during specific hours of the day. He will have to take part in programs determined by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board and will not be permitted to use alcohol or other illegal substances.
“Pistorius is prohibited from giving media interviews, just like other parolees,” the statement continued.
“It’s still real and raw pain.”
The mother of Steenkamp has been outspoken in her condemnation of his release. She acknowledged that she had forgiven Pistorius in a victim impact statement from November, but she did not think his account of what happened was credible.
She said, “At this point, I am not convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated.”
“A person must confront the whole reality of their offense and its repercussions to begin the process of rehabilitation. If one cannot truly deal with the facts, one cannot claim to be remorseful.
“If someone does not show remorse, they cannot be considered rehabilitated. They run a significant risk of recidivism if they are not helped.
In addition, she expressed worries about other women’s safety if he was granted parole.
“If this hadn’t been addressed during his rehabilitation, I worry about any woman’s safety.” I do not know to what extent this behavior still exists or was evident during his time in prison.”
June Steenkamp referred to February 14, 2013, as “the day life changed forever” in her statement on Friday.
“Almost eleven years later, the anguish is still there and intense. My late husband Barry and I have never been able to accept Reeva’s passing or how she passed away,” the woman said.
She stated that Pistorius’s parole board had placed restrictions on him, such as programs on gender-based violence and anger management classes.
The sportsman dubbed the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetic limbs, was formerly hailed as an inspiration after competing in the 2012 Olympics against sportsmen with able bodies.
Although Pistorius did not receive a medal, his appearance on the track was celebrated as a victory over hardship and against those who said his blades provided him an unfair edge over others.
In 2016, during his second court appearance, the judge called him a “fallen hero.”
