Oscar Pistorius, the former South African Paralympian, has been released on parole after serving 11 years in prison for the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The tragic incident occurred on February 14, 2013, when Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of their home in Pretoria.
The South African Department of Correctional Services confirmed Pistorius’s parole on January 5, 2024. He has been admitted to the system of Community Corrections and is now at home. Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for his state-of-the-art prosthetic legs, claimed he fired his gun, thinking there was an intruder in their home. Initially convicted of culpable homicide, he later faced a murder conviction in 2015 and was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison.
Following Pistorius’s release, June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, expressed her sentiments, questioning the justice for Reeva and whether Oscar had served enough time. She emphasized that no amount of time served could bring Reeva back, leaving those who remain behind serving a life sentence.
In a statement, June Steenkamp shared her desire to live her last years in peace, focusing on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to continue her daughter’s legacy. Oscar Pistorius will complete the remainder of his sentence under South Africa’s community corrections system, supervised by the Department of Correctional Services until December 2029. The parole conditions include reporting to a parole officer, attending gender-based violence classes, and continuing anger management therapy. June Steenkamp expressed concern for the safety of any woman who comes into contact with Pistorius, citing his “huge anger issues.”
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