Oscar Pistorius granted freedom after serving 9-year sentence for girlfriend's murder
Oscar Pistorius released from prison after serving 9 years for girlfriend's murder, marking the end of a deeply tragic chapter in his life and a case that captivated the world
After serving half of his 13-year sentence for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter, was granted parole and released from prison on Friday. This comes more than a decade after the shocking incident that garnered global attention.
Singabakho Nxumalo, the spokesperson for South Africa's Department of Correctional Services (DCS), informed CNN that Pistorius was discharged from Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, located west of Pretoria, on Friday morning. He will be required to adhere to parole conditions until his sentence concludes in 2029.
In a statement released on Friday, Steenkamp's mother expressed her sole wish following Pistorius' release, which is to be able to live her remaining years "in peace."
June Steenkamp expressed her despair, stating, "There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back." She emphasized, "We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence."
Prison officials search a car at the main entrance of the Atteridgeville Prison in Pretoria, South Africa on January 5, 2024.
Themba Hadebe/AP
On February 14, 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door in his home in Pretoria. Despite prosecutors' argument that he killed her in a fit of anger during a Valentines Day argument, Pistorius has maintained that he mistook her for an intruder. The global attention garnered by the trial saw Pistorius plead not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing.
The initial conviction in 2014 was for manslaughter and carried a five-year sentence. However, a year later, a higher court overturned the conviction, upgrading it to murder and resulting in a six-year prison sentence.
Oscar Pistorius poses next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Johannesburg on January 26, 2013.
Waldo Swiegers/AFP/Getty Images
Prosecutors appealed the ruling, arguing that the sentence was too lenient. As a result, Pistorius' sentence was extended to 13 years and five months by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017. Due to a law allowing inmates to be eligible for parole after serving half of their sentence and meeting certain conditions, Pistorius became eligible for parole in March 2023. This law is part of the country's "Restorative Justice" process, which offers offenders the chance to acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions.
As per the DCS, Pistorius will serve the rest of his sentence in the country's community corrections system. He is required to participate in gender-based violence programs and undergo ongoing anger management therapy sessions, as stated by a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, as reported by Reuters.
The statement from the DCS on Wednesday declared that Pistorius will be subject to "general parole conditions" such as specific curfew hours, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, and participating in designated programs set by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board. The statement also noted that, like other parolees, Pistorius is not permitted to give media interviews.
FOscar Pistorius enters the dock before court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrates court June 4, 2013.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/File
Pain is still raw and real
Steenkamp's mother has openly criticized his release. In a victim impact statement in November, she expressed forgiveness towards Pistorius but doubted his account of events, stating, "I am not currently convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated."
In order to be rehabilitated, one must honestly confront the full truth of their crime and its consequences. Genuine remorse cannot exist without this honest self-confrontation. Without remorse, rehabilitation is impossible, and the risk of repeating the crime is significant.
She had concerns about the safety of other women if he was released on parole. "I'm worried about the safety of any woman if his rehabilitation didn't address this behavior during his time in prison," she said.
Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed in the home of star Olympian Oscar Pistorius on Thursday, February 14, 2013.
Rikki Hibbert Photography/Courtesy of Stimulii
Parents of Reeva Steenkamp still grieving daughters death, a decade after she was killed by Oscar Pistorius
June Steenkamp's statement on Friday expressed that February 14, 2013, marked the day when her life changed forever. She stated that even after almost 11 years, the pain of losing her late husband Barry and not being able to accept Reeva's death or the way she died is still raw and real.
She stated that the parole board has mandated anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence for Pistorius.
The athlete, nicknamed the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, was previously celebrated as an inspirational figure for competing against able-bodied athletes in the 2012 Olympics.
Despite failing to win a medal, Pistorius' presence on the track was celebrated as a triumph over adversity and a defeat over critics who alleged his blades provided an unfair advantage over his competitors. During his second court sentencing in 2016, the judge referred to him as a "fallen hero."
