Oscar Pistorius, the former South African Olympic and Paralympic star, has been released on parole, according to an announcement by South Africa’s Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services on Friday.
The 37-year-old athlete, who gained global fame for his achievements despite being a double amputee, is now back at home.
Pistorius made headlines in 2013 when he shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day.
The tragic incident took place at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, where Pistorius fired multiple shots through a bathroom door, claiming that he had mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar.
Initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014, Pistorius received a five-year prison sentence.
However, a year later, the Supreme Court of Appeal upgraded the ruling to a murder charge, resulting in a six-year sentence.
In 2017, the sentence was further increased to 13 years after prosecutors argued that the punishment was too lenient.
While Pistorius was initially expected to serve until 2029, South African law allows for parole consideration once an offender has served half of their total sentence.
Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” due to his prosthetic legs, was born without fibulas, and both his legs were amputated below the knees when he was a toddler.
Despite the controversy surrounding his legal battles, Pistorius remains a decorated athlete. He achieved multiple Paralympic sprint gold medals and gained recognition as the first amputee to win a non-disabled world track medal in 2011.
In 2012, he made history as the first double-leg amputee to compete in the Olympics.
