DOUBLE-AMPUTEE Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole, marking a significant development a decade after the tragic shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in South Africa. Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, confirmed Pistorius’s release from prison on January 5.
Pistorius, who recently turned 37, has been incarcerated since late 2014 following the Valentine’s Day 2013 killing of model Reeva Steenkamp. He had a brief period of house arrest in 2015 during an appeal in his case. Ultimately convicted of murder, he received a 13-year, five-month prison sentence.
In compliance with South African law, serious offenders must serve a minimum of half their sentence to be considered for parole—an obligation Pistorius has fulfilled.
During the time of Steenkamp’s tragic death, Pistorius was a celebrated athlete, renowned globally for his sporting achievements. The incident occurred in the early hours when he fatally shot Steenkamp multiple times in the bathroom of his Pretoria home using his licensed 9mm pistol.
This development marks a pivotal moment in a case that had captivated global attention and raised discussions on justice, responsibility, and the consequences of violence.