South Africa’s former top athlete Oscar Pistorius will be released on parole at the beginning of January. He was classified as a “first-time offender with a positive support system.” Pistorius shot his girlfriend in 2013.
Former top athlete Oscar Pistorius is to be released on parole. This was announced by the South African Department of Corrections. Pistorius is due to be released from prison in the capital Pretoria on January 5th. He was classified as a “first-time offender with a positive support system.”
In 2013, Pistorius killed his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp with four shots through the toilet door of his villa. The proceedings against the former sprint star dragged on for years and went through several instances. Pistorius said at the time that he fired several times because he feared there was a burglar behind the door. But the evidence was against him and he was convicted of manslaughter.
Served half of prison time
The now 37-year-old has served about half of his sentence of 13 years and five months. Under South African law, he was automatically entitled to a parole hearing.
At the time of the crime, Pistorius was at the peak of his career. At the 2012 Paralympic Games he won six gold medals on specially made carbon prostheses. As a child, his legs were amputated below the knees due to a genetic defect.