Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole over a decade after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
On February 14, 2013, Pistorius shot four times through the toilet door in his Pretoria home killing his girlfriend. He claimed he mistook her for a burglar who had broken into his home.
Pistorius was serving time in a South African jail for killing Reeva Steenkamp. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2014.
However, in 2015 the Supreme Court of Appeal changed his conviction to murder. According to the BBC, the court said his version of events was inconsistent and improbable adding that he had “fired without having a rational or genuine fear that his life was in danger”.
He was to serve 13 years and five months in jail.
Ms Steenkamp’s mother said she accepted the decision to release the former athlete but added her family was the one “serving a life sentence”.
Terms of parole for Pistorius
Until his sentence expires, Pistorius will be confined at home for certain hours of the day.
He is banned from drinking alcohol and is not allowed to speak to the media. He is also required to get therapy to help deal with anger and issues around gender-based violence.
The 37-year-old double amputee had an impressive career at the Paralympics, where he won multiple gold medals. He also competed against non-disabled athletes at the London Olympics in 2012.
Ms Steenkamp died at 29 years old and was a law graduate. She was a few months into a relationship with the released athlete when the shooting claimed her life.
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