Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Oscar Pistorius, former Paralympic Olympian convicted of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s murder, is now a free man after his early 2024 release from prison. Pistorius, once known by the name “Blade Runner” for his historical career in athletics, murdered Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The case then made international headlines for his high-profile trial and controversial conviction in 2016.
A double amputee athlete, Oscar Pistorius, has bagged multiple gold medals in three Paralympic Games. Then, in 2012, he historically debuted at London’s Summer Olympics as the first-ever Paralympic sprinter for the South African team. However, the following year, he fatally shot and murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in a crime that would end his career.
Pistorius later maintained his innocence, claiming the shooting was a mistake. He allegedly believed Steenkamp was an intruder. However, prosecutors argued he intentionally murdered his girlfriend during a heated argument. After a back-and-forth legal battle, which resulted in his conviction, the Paralympian received more than 13 years in prison.
What is former Paralympic Olympian Oscar Pistorius doing now?
According to People Magazine, Oscar Pistorius served half of his over 13-year prison sentence before receiving parole. On January 5, 2024, he walked out of Atteridgeville Correctional Center near Pretoria. His release came nearly 11 years after fatally shooting and murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day, 2013. Oscar Pistorius now resides in South Africa in the Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof with his uncle Arnold Pistorius.
NBC News reported that the South African Department of Correctional Services released an official statement on Pistorius’ parole. The statement noted that his release is largely supervised freedom and that the ex-inmate will require permission to lead a basic life. The release further stated that they “confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024. He was admitted into the system of Community Corrections and is now at home.”
Moreover, despite his release on parole, Pistorius has several restrictions concerning his movements. The Department of Correctional Services revealed that he cannot leave the Waterkloof district without prior permission. These restrictions also forbid the former Paralympian from speaking to the media. However, his lawyer Julian Knight claimed these conditions give him “limited time in the week to attend work commitments and church on Sunday.”
Another parole condition that Oscar Pistorius must follow is mandatory therapy. He reportedly attends therapy sessions and programs on anger management programs and violence against women. The former convict should also fulfill his two-hour-long community service, consistently meet with parole officers, and expect sudden visits from officials until 2029, when his prison sentence ultimately expires.
Oscar Pistorius Pistorius gained notoriety for murdering 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law school graduate. The incident occurred in his home on February 14, 2013. Pistorius later claimed he believed Steenkamp was still in bed when he thought an intruder broke into their home. The athlete alleged he grabbed his 9mm firearm and fired into a locked bathroom only to later realize it was his girlfriend he shot at.
Pistorius’ high-profile trial began in 2014 when he argued Steenkamp’s death was unintentional. He maintained his innocence, claiming to have acted in self-defense. Prosecutors, on the other hand, called the crime premeditated, alleging the Paralympian shot the victim after an argument. During the trial, the court heard testimonies from 37 witnesses, which finally concluded in September of that year.
Judge Thokozile Masipa convicted Oscar Pistorius of culpable homicide, which is equivalent to manslaughter. He received a five-year prison sentence after the guilty verdict. However, the prosecution appealed this conviction on a lesser count. The Guardian stated that they believed his sentence “shockingly light” and “inappropriate.” Meanwhile, the convict became eligible for parole and got early release in October 2015.
Then, in December of that year, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the initial verdict. The panel of five judges entered the murder conviction, claiming that the trial court “seemingly ignored” critical evidence and “misapplied the principle of ‘dolus eventualis.'” Additionally, they believed the convict “never offered an acceptable explanation” for the murder. South Africa’s High Court eventually sentenced him to 13 years and five months.
Several documentaries, true-crime shows, and films have previously chronicled the case against Oscar Pistorius. A few of these works include Oscar Pistorius: Track Star on Trial, The Trials of Oscar Pistorius, and Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer, among others.
