Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who killed his girlfriend, is released

It was announced that former South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius, jailed for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp nine years ago, will be released from prison on January 4, within the scope of the parole law.

Known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon fiber prosthetic legs, Pistorius went from folk hero to convicted murderer as a Paralympic champion. Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison by the high court in 2014 for manslaughter. However, following an appeal by prosecutors, at the end of 2015 the Supreme Court of Appeal found him guilty of the most serious crime of murder.

His total sentence, less than half the minimum 15-year sentence requested by prosecutors, was extended to 6 years in 2016.

In 2017, the High Court more than doubled his total sentence to 13 years and five months, saying his six-year prison sentence was “surprisingly lenient”.

“Mr. Pistorius will serve the remainder of his sentence in the community corrections system and will be subject to supervision in accordance with the terms of his probation until he completes his sentence,” the Department of Correctional Services said in a statement Friday.

Lawyers for Pistorius and the Steenkamp family did not immediately respond to requests for comment.