Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee who became a global star, was released on Friday. He gained fame competing at his sport’s highest level while running on carbon fibre blades. He was released after serving nearly nine years for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp.
The 37-year-old athlete quietly left the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in Pretoria. Pistorius was processed at a parole office before being released to his family. A parole board granted Pistorius’ petition in November. It was granted because he had served half of his 13-year sentence for murdering Steenkamp. According to South African law, this makes him eligible for an early release.
Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said, that Pistorius was released on Friday morning. Pistorius will be subject to parole conditions until his sentence expires in 2029. Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, said in a statement Friday that she had accepted Pistorius’ parole. She says that the pain of her daughter’s death was “still raw and real.”
Did Steenkamp’s parent accept Pistorius’ parole?
Earlier, the parents of Steenkamp, especially Barry Steenkamp, her father, expressed his anger, “He is a murderer. He should remain in jail.” “After all these years, we are still waiting for him to admit he did it in anger. That is all we wanted.” Barry Steenkamp passed away at age 60 on Sept. 15, 2023.
Upon learning of Pistorius’s parole, June released a statement. It was on behalf of herself and her late husband via a family lawyer. She said,
“I do not believe Oscar’s version that he thought the person in the toilet was a burglar… I believe he knew it was Reeva.”
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, said in a statement Friday that she had accepted Pistorius’ parole. She says that the pain of her daughter’s death was “still raw and real.” Pistorius’s petition was granted because he had served half his 13-year sentence. On this point, June said, “No amount of time served will bring Reeva back”.
What are the conditions for his release?
Singabakho Nxumalo detailed the conditions of his release. He will not be permitted to leave Pretoria and will have to attend an anger management program. Besides this, he will attend another program focusing on violence against women. There will also be mandatory community service.
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