Olympian Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on parole after serving approximately nine years of his 13-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, who was known as the “Blade Runner” for his accomplishments in track and field, shot Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Despite his claims that he thought he was shooting an intruder, Pistorius was ultimately found guilty of the more serious murder charge by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal.
While Pistorius’s release from prison has been met with mixed emotions, Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, lauded the conditions imposed by the parole board, including anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence. She stated that it sends a clear message that gender-based violence is taken seriously in South Africa’s justice system.
However, she also expressed that the pain of losing her daughter almost 11 years ago remains raw and real, stating, “There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back.” Despite Pistorius’s release, the impact of his actions continues to reverberate, and Steenkamp’s family and loved ones remain the ones serving a life sentence.
Pistorius will be subject to general parole conditions, including restrictions on leaving home and a ban on conducting media interviews or consuming alcohol. Any breach of these conditions could result in Pistorius being sent back to prison.