Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, infamous for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on parole after serving half of his 13-year sentence, according to officials.
Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 but later found guilty of murder in 2015 after an appeal court overturned the initial verdict.
The 37-year-old athlete, who claimed to have mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar, will live under strict conditions until his sentence expires in 2029, including being unable to speak to the media.
He is believed to have returned to the home of his uncle Arnold Pistorius in Pretoria.
Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, expressed acceptance of the parole decision but emphasized the enduring pain for her family.
She stated, “Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.”
The parole conditions imposed on Pistorius include anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence, with Steenkamp welcoming these decisions.
She reiterated her commitment to focusing on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to continue her daughter’s legacy.
Despite Pistorius’s high public profile, South Africa’s department of correctional services emphasized treating him like any other parolee, enforcing home confinement during specific hours and prohibiting alcohol consumption and media interactions.
Reeva Steenkamp, a law graduate, successful model, and TV presenter, was 29 years old when she died.
The tragic incident occurred in 2013 when Pistorius fired multiple shots through a door, claiming he believed an intruder was present.
The subsequent legal battles and trials captivated global attention, leading to Pistorius’s eventual murder conviction in 2015.
