Oscar Pistorius Granted Early Release from Jail, 11 Years after Killing Girlfriend

South Africa’s former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been granted early release from prison, 11 years after he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The South African Department of Correctional Services said a parole board reviewing whether Pistorius, was fit for social reintegration decided to place him on parole from January 5, 2024.

“Mr Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires”.

However, Reeva Steenkamp’s mother told the parole hearing that she did not believe Pistorius was rehabilitated, saying he had not shown true remorse.

June Steenkamp in a statement to the board said “Rehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly, with the full truth of his crime and the consequences thereof. Nobody can claim to have remorse if they’re not able to engage fully with the truth”.

Known worldwide as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial and several appeals.