South Africa: ex-athlete Oscar Pistorius, convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, released from prison as part of his parole

“He was admitted to the community corrections system and is now home,” the administration said in a statement.

 “We, who are still here, are sentenced to life,” said the victim’s mother, June Steenkamp, ​​in a written statement.

Oscar Pistorius is now out of prison. After serving more than half of his sentence of 13 years and 5 months, the 37-year-old former South African Paralympics athlete is now on parole.

He was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp, ​​after shooting her through a bathroom door on Valentine's Day 2013. He said he thought he was dealing with an intruder.

More than 10 years after the media tornado that this affair triggered, the man nicknamed “Blade Runner” should gradually reintegrate into South African society.

In any case, the prison services confirmed this Friday morning that Oscar Pistorius had been brought back to his home. A transfer was carried out discreetly, far from the cameras, for security reasons according to the South African authorities.

He will now have to stay in the very chic villa of his uncle, a businessman from Pretoria, and will be followed by a prison officer, as South Africa does not have a culture of electronic surveillance for prisoners. Sentence adjustments.

Until the end of 2029, the former athletics star will have to comply with several rules, such as not consuming alcohol, not giving interviews, or being at home at certain times.

Oscar Pistorius will also have to follow anger management therapy and a program on violence against women.

An obligation that comforts the victim's mother a little since she believes that it sends "the clear message that sexist violence is taken seriously". June Steenkamp, ​​however, indicated that those close to the young model will remain “sentenced for life” and that “no sentence will allow Reeva to be brought back”.