Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius set to be granted parole in January

Oscar Pistorius is set to be released on parole in January, according to prison authorities on Friday. This comes almost 11 years after the former South African Paralympic sprinter was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

In 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his house. He claimed that he believed her to be an intruder, denying that he killed her in a fit of anger. Originally sentenced to 13 years and five months imprisonment, Pistorius will soon be released on parole.

Nicknamed the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, the athlete gained international attention after participating in the 2012 Olympics. However, he found himself at the center of a widely publicized trial, where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder and a firearms charge related to the killing of Steenkamp.

Prosecutors argued her killing was deliberate and that the shooting happened after the couple had an argument.

He frequently broke down in court and his past behavior was closely scrutinized.

Pistorius was initially found guilty of manslaughter in 2014 and given a five-year sentence. However, a higher court overturned the conviction and upgraded it to murder a year later, resulting in a six-year prison term. Prosecutors appealed this ruling, arguing that the sentence was insufficient. As a result, Pistorius' sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017.

Nimi Princewill and Niamh Kennedy contributed to this report.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.