Topline
Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison in January, a South African parole board ruled Friday, after the former Paralympic champion and Olympic athlete was convicted of killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
Key Facts
Pistorius has been granted parole and will be released from prison on Jan. 5, South African authorities said Friday according to multiple reports.
The 37-year-old athlete shot and killed Steenkamp on Valentineās Day at home in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2013, and has alleged he shot through the door of his bathroom because he believed an intruder was in the house, unaware he was shooting at Steenkamp ā though prosecutors argued he shot Steenkamp knowingly due to an argument.
Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 and sentenced to five years in prison, but South Africaās Supreme Court then found him guilty of murder on appeal in 2015.
The high court initially sentenced the athlete to six years in prison, but the Supreme Court of Appeal then increased his sentence in 2017 to 13 years and five months, after prosecutors argued Pistoriusā six-year sentence was āshockingly lenient.ā
Pistorius was previously denied parole in March, with authorities ruling he hadnāt completed his minimum sentence, but a court later ruled in October that he was eligible for parole when his sentence was backdated to 2016 rather than 2017, when it was extended.
Under South African law, prisoners are eligible for parole after half their sentence has been served, and factors taken into account to determine whether they should be released include the nature of their crime, their behavior in prison and the likelihood of them committing another offense, the Guardian notes.
Chief Critic
Steenkampās mother June Steenkamp did not attend Fridayās parole hearing, but in a victim statement read at the hearing said she didnāt believe Pistorius should be released and was fully rehabilitated, because ārehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly with the full truth of his crime and the consequences,ā as quoted by BBC News. She added she would potentially be āconcerned for the safety of any womanā who Pistorius now associates with.
Key Background
Pistorius had his legs amputated when he was 11 months old due to a congenital defect, going on to become known as the āBlade Runnerā as he competed in track events wearing prosthetic blades. The runner became a global sports star prior to his conviction, winning six gold medals during the Paralympic Games in 2008 and 2012. He also became the first double amputee runner to compete in the Olympic Games, coming in eighth place in the 400m semifinal at the 2012 London Olympics. In addition to his murder conviction, Pistorius was also separately accused of assault after allegedly injuring a party guest at his house in 2009 when he slammed and punched a door. The athlete denied the allegations against him, and the case was settled before the Steenkamp charges went to trial.
Further Reading
Oscarās Lost Millions (Forbes Africa)
Oscar Pistorius Fast Facts (CNN)
Who is Oscar Pistorius? From ‘blade runner’ to convicted murderer (Sky News)