Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has officially been freed on parole from a South African jail – 11 years after shooting his partner, Reeva Steenkamp, multiple times through a door.
Officials confirmed Pistorius was „at home” on Friday morning, having served half of his more than 13-year sentence.
Reeva’s mother said she accepted the decision to release the former athlete, but pointing out that it was her family „serving a life sentence”.
Under South African law, all offenders are entitled to be considered for parole once they have served half their total sentence, which for Pistorius was finally set in 2017 at 13 years and five months. His strict parole sentence will end in 2029, when he will officially be free.
He is believed to have gone to live at the home of his uncle Arnold Pistorius in an upmarket suburb of the capital, Pretoria.
Reeva had planned to start a law firm to help abused women after graduating. She had only been dating Pistorius for three months when he killed her.
Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, concluded as follows: „My only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reeva’s legacy.”
