Oscar Pistorius released on parole and at home 11 years after murdering Reeva Steenkamp - live
Pistorius admitted to system of community corrections and is now at home
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Paralympian gold medalist Oscar Pistorius was freed from a South African prison today, 11 years after he killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He is admitted to the system of community corrections and is now at home, said South Africa’s Correctional Services Department.
The double amputee was convicted of murdering Steenkamp after he shot her multiple times through a locked toilet door with a 9mm pistol on Valentine’s Day at their Pretoria home in 2013.
Now reportedly a grey haired smoker who has turned to religion, the 37-year-old will begin his new life on parole a few miles away from the South African capital behind the high walls of his wealthy uncle’s guarded property.
Live: View of South Africa prison as Oscar Pistorius released on parole
A gun enthusiast, Pistorius claimed he thought Ms Steenkamp was an intruder but was convicted of culpable homicide - a crime similar to manslaughter - in 2014.
He was found guilty of the more serious charge of murder in 2015 and he was later sentenced to 13 years in prison after prosecutors won an appeal on the grounds his initial sentence was too lenient.
Reeva Steenkamp’s father details ‘traumatising’ meeting with daughter’s murderer
Reeva Steenkamp’s father, who has since died, described a “traumatising” face-to-face meeting with his daughter’s murderer Oscar Pistorius last year.
Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the killing, Barry Steenkamp opened up about the prison cell confrontation he had with the former Paralympian.
“He wasn’t wailing and crying like a baby, tears came into his eyes, yes. But it wasn’t that dramatic that he was wailing and crying like a baby. It was really traumatising for myself.”
Reeva Steenkamp’s father details ‘traumatising’ prison meeting with Oscar Pistorius
Reeva Steenkamp’s father has described a “traumatising” face-to-face meeting with his daughter’s murderer Oscar Pistorius. Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the killing, Barry Steenkamp opened up about the prison cell confrontation he had with the former Paralympian. “He wasn’t wailing and crying like a baby, tears came into his eyes, yes,” he said. “But it wasn’t that dramatic that he was wailing and crying like a baby. It was really traumatising for myself.” Mr Steenkamp added that “only Oscar knows the true story” behind the murder. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Reeva Steenkamp would ‘light up any room', mother says
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June described her daughter as “beautiful” who would light up a room with her presence in a victim impact statement given before Pistorius’s parole hearing last year.
Steenkamp’s family spokesperson, Rob Matthews, read a victim impact statement from June Steenkamp ahead of his hearing.
“Reeva was born a miracle, she entered our lives after medical experts predicted that I would have difficulty conceiving after a miscarriage. From a very young age, she had the ability to light up a room with her presence,” the statement read.
Mrs Steenkamp also said she did not believe Pistorius had thought her daughter was an intruder, which he claimed during his trial.
Despite saying her daughter’s death left a “massive hole” in the life of her family, she said she had forgiven Pistorius as she “would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger”.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother speaks of ‘beautiful’ daughter ahead of Pistorius hearing
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother discussed her “beautiful” daughter in a victim impact statement ahead of Oscar Pistorius’s parole hearing on Friday 24 November. The former Paralympic champion shot and killed his girlfriend in 2013 at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, and was jailed for murder in 2016. He will be released from prison on 5 January 2024 after he was granted parole on Friday. Steenkamp’s family spokesperson, Rob Matthews, read a victim impact statement from June Steenkamp ahead of his hearing. “Reeva was born a miracle, she entered our lives after medical experts predicted that I would have difficulty conceiving after a miscarriage,” the statement said. “From a very young age, she had the ability to light up a room with her presence.”
Pictured: Oscar Pistorius’s prison cell inside the Kgosi Mampuru II prison, Pretoria, South Africa, in 2016
Oscar Pistorius: From Olympic superstar to Pretoria prison
Just a year before Ms Steenkamp’s death, Pistorius had starred at the London Olympic Games in summer 2012 and won worldwide fame.
In addition to his haul of three medals – two gold and one silver – Pistorius had become the first double-amputee to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.
The historic achievement cemented his place as a trailblazer and celebrated ambassador for disability sport. Read more about his fall from grace here:
Oscar Pistorius: From Olympic superstar to Pretoria prison
Double-amputee athlete was celebrated around the world before astonishing fall from grace
Welcome to our live coverage of this event
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of this event. Paralympian gold medalist and murderer Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on Friday 11 years after killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The double amputee was convicted of murdering Reeva Steenkamp after he shot her multiple times through a locked toilet door with a 9mm pistol on Valentine’s Day at their Pretoria home in 2013.
But he is now set to be released on parole, and will live with his uncle on a high walled and closely guarded compound a few miles from Pretoria.
We will be bringing you all live updates, including pictures of Pistorius leaving prison, reaction to his early release, and explainers on what happened.
