Paralympic Athlete: Oscar Pistorius Granted Parole After 10 Years for Girlfriend’s Killing

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Jailed South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole after serving nine years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The decision was announced today by the Department of Correctional Services.

Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison in 2014 for culpable homicide, but his sentence was increased to 13 years and five months for murder by the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017. He will be released on January 5, 2024.

The Blade Runner, as he was known for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, shot and killed Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He claimed that he thought she was an intruder, but the prosecution argued that he had intentionally killed her.

Pistorius’s parole comes after he has been assessed by a panel of psychologists and social workers. The parole board has also considered his behavior in prison, which has been described as exemplary.

The decision to grant Pistorius parole has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that he has served his time and deserves a second chance, while others believe that he should have served the full sentence for his crime.

“I am relieved that Oscar will be coming home soon,” Pistorius’s father, Henke, said in a statement. “We have always maintained his innocence, and we are grateful that he will finally be able to put this behind him.”

Steenkamp’s family has not commented on the decision.