Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been freed on parole from a South African jail, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Officials confirmed Pistorius was at home today, having served half of his more than 13-year sentence. Steenkamp’s mother said she accepted the decision to release the former athlete – but added her family was the one serving a life sentence.
Recall that Pistorius, now 37, shot Steenkamp multiple times in 2013 through a door. The double amputee later claimed he had mistaken her for a burglar.
Pistorius was eventually convicted of murder in 2015 after an appeal court overturned an earlier verdict of culpable homicide. Under South African law, all offenders are entitled to be considered for parole once they have served half their total sentence, which for Pistorius was finally set in 2017 at 13 years and five months.
Reports say that he will live under strict conditions – including being unable to speak to the media – until his sentence expires in 2029.