Pistorius is out of prison… but what’s next? And what happened?

AAfter serving around nine years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius was released this Friday, continuing to serve his sentence on parole.

The former athlete’s release comes after, in November, parole was granted on a second appeal.

According to ABC News, Pistorius is expected to live at his uncle’s house in Pretoria, South Africa, the place where he stayed during his trial and where he was in pre-trial detention in 2015 and 2016. The publication adds that barriers have been placed next to this residence this Thursday, in what appears to be preparations for his arrival, of which no further details were revealed.

The Paralympic champion will live under supervision until the end of his sentence of 13 years and five months, which ends in December 2029.

But why did Pistorius get out of prison?

According to the publication mentioned above, those convicted of serious crimes can benefit from their parole after serving half of their sentence, which is the case of the former athlete.

Reuters also points out that parole is considered taking into account the nature of the crime, the possibility of recurrence, mental well-being or behavior in prison.

In addition, Pistorius also participated in a program in which there is a dialogue between the convicted person and the victim. According to the news agency, this program was made with Pistorius and his ex-girlfriend’s father, Barry Steenkamp, ​​in June 2022.

Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius© WALDO SWIEGERS/AFP via Getty Images

The reaction to his release

The family of his ex-girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, ​​reacted to the news of his departure by saying that the decision did not surprise them. Previously, the victim’s mother said that she had no objections to her leaving, despite believing that Pistorius was not rehabilitated.

After the decision, June Steenkamp even praised the efforts of the commission that granted the former athlete parole for the efforts they made in involving the victims.

The family’s lawyer said that no prison sentence would make a difference to the family. “For them, it’s a life sentence”he stated, referring to the young woman’s death.

What took Pistorius to prison?

Oscar Pistorius was arrested on February 14, 2013, accused of killing his girlfriend. The athlete claimed at the time to have confused Reeva Steenkamp with a robber, whom he fatally shot. He shot four times through the bathroom door, which was closed. In September 2014, Oscar was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison.

During the trial, Pistorius explained that he slept with his gun after having already received death threats.

According to him, it was only when he knocked on the door with a bat that he realized that the person inside was his girlfriend.

Prosecutors alleged that the shots were fired after the couple had argued, an idea corroborated by neighbors. Reeva Steenkamp was a South African model, born in 1983 in Cape Town. She died at age 29.

[Notícia atualizada às 07h19]

Read Also: Oscar Pistorius will be released in January after 10 years in prison