Oscar Pistorius to be released on parole in January
Former South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius will be released on parole in January, nearly 11 years after he was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his house in 2013, claiming that he had mistaken her for an intruder.
The athlete, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, was originally sentenced to 13 years and five months imprisonment. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years, but a higher court overturned the conviction and changed it to murder a year later, increasing his sentence to six years in prison. His sentence was further increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017, after prosecutors claimed the initial sentence was too lenient.
During the trial, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp’s killing. Prosecutors argued her killing was deliberate and happened after the couple had an argument. Pistorius frequently broke down in court, and his past behavior was closely scrutinized.
The news of Pistorius’ upcoming parole has reignited public interest in the case, as he had previously been a widely celebrated and inspirational figure, competing in the 2012 Olympics. The parole decision has also led to renewed debate about the leniency of his sentence and the circumstances of the murder.
The ruling was appealed by prosecutors who claimed the sentence was too lenient. Pistorius’ sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017.
The story is still developing and will be updated as more details emerge. Nimi Princewill and Niamh Kennedy contributed to this report.