Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee who became a global star competing at his sport’s highest level while running on carbon-fiber blades, was released from prison on Friday after serving nearly nine years for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp.
At the age of 37, Pistorius quietly departed from the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in Pretoria. He underwent processing at a parole office before being released to his family, as confirmed by Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections. Nxumalo characterized Pistorius’ release as an “operation” aimed at avoiding media attention and did not provide additional details.
“I can only tell you he was released this morning,” Nxumalo stated.
Pistorius completed almost nine years of his 13-year and five-month murder sentence for the fatal shooting of Steenkamp at his residence on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Becoming eligible for early release by serving at least half of his sentence, he received approval for parole in November.
Pistorius will be subject to stringent parole conditions, which include a prohibition on engaging with the media, until his sentence concludes in December 2029. Initially, he is anticipated to reside at his uncle’s residence in the affluent Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof, where he stayed during his seven-month trial in 2014.
A police van was outside that house and a police officer was seen coming out later Friday. The officer declined to comment to reporters. Three black private security vehicles were also parked in front of the mansion. Olympic sprinter Oscar
Pistorius and his brother and sister grew up under the care of their uncle and aunt, Arnold and Lois Pistorius, after becoming estranged from their father. Pistorius’ mother died when he was a teenager. Arnold Pistorius was seen driving out of the home, as was Pistorius’ sister, Aimee Pistorius’ trial attracted a considerable media presence from across the globe. Despite prior warnings from corrections officials that he would not be “paraded” for cameras upon release, a small crowd of reporters, photographers, and TV cameras gathered outside the prison in anticipation of catching a glimpse of him.