Oscar Pistorius, a paralympian who gained notoriety for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, has completed half of his 13-year term and is now free on parole from a South African prison.
After shooting Steenkamp many times, the now 37-year-old Pistorius first claimed he thought she was a burglar. In 2015, an appellate court reversed the initial verdict of culpable homicide, leading to his conviction for murder.
The mother of the victim, June Steenkamp, acknowledged that Pistorius had been freed but emphasized that her family was the ones “serving a life sentence.”
Pistorius will be subject to severe restrictions until 2029, such as a ban on the media and the fulfillment of anger management and programs aimed at addressing gender-based violence.
The former athlete’s parole restrictions limit his activities and movements while he lives in Pretoria with his uncle Arnold Pistorius.
June Steenkamp expressed her support for the parole board’s actions, which included making courses mandatory, and she reiterated her faith in the South African legal system.
She did, however, wonder if Oscar had spent enough time and if Reeva had really received justice.
Known as the “blade runner,” Pistorius is a double amputee who raced in the 2012 London Olympics and gained notoriety as a Paralympic gold medalist.
The world was outraged by the terrible death of 29-year-old model and law graduate Steenkamp, which sparked a drawn-out court struggle.
The Department of Correctional Services in South Africa emphasized that Pistorius will receive the same treatment as any other parolee, notwithstanding his high notoriety.
June Steenkamp stated that she wished to carry on her daughter’s legacy by concentrating on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.
