"Oscar Pistorius Set for Release as Parole Granted in Reeva Steenkamp Murder Case"
– Former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on Friday after he was granted parole nearly 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
– Here is a look at what will happen to Pistorius after his release under South Africa's restorative justice programme.
Former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is poised to be released from prison on Friday after being granted parole nearly 11 years following the tragic killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, became eligible for parole in March 2023 after serving half of his 13-year and five-month sentence for murder.
On November 24, Pistorius was granted parole, which will take effect on January 5, under South Africa's restorative justice program. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) announced that Pistorius would complete the remainder of his sentence in the country's community corrections system. The DCS will supervise him, and he will be subject to parole conditions until December 2029, when his sentence expires.
During his release, Pistorius will be assigned a monitoring official who must be informed of his job-seeking activities and any changes in his residence. Additionally, as part of the parole conditions, he will attend programs on gender-based violence and continue therapy sessions on anger management, according to a lawyer representing the Steenkamp family. It is expected that Pistorius will reside in Pretoria.
Pistorius's eligibility for early release was determined by various factors, including the nature of the crime, potential for reoffending, conduct in prison, physical and mental well-being, and possible threats upon release. Prior to parole, Pistorius participated in the restorative justice program, which aims to address crimes in a participative and reconciliatory manner. As part of this program, victim-offender dialogues were held, including one involving Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry Steenkamp, on June 22, 2022.
The reaction to Pistorius's early release has been mixed. The Steenkamp family lawyer expressed lack of surprise and praised the parole decision, stating that they had no objections to Pistorius's release. However, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June, released a statement expressing doubts about Pistorius's rehabilitation but did not oppose his release. Pistorius's lawyer and family have refrained from commenting on the matter.
