Oscar Pistorius was released from prison after serving less than nine years for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The ex-Paralympic champion, who is 37 years old, shot Reeva four times while she was in a locked bathroom at his house in Pretoria. It happened on Valentine’s Day in 2013 and she was hit in the head and body.
He could leave prison early because he had served half of his 13-year and five-month sentence for murder, which was upgraded from manslaughter in 2016.
After being inside for more than 3,100 days, he will leave his modified cell and move to a cottage in his uncle’s expensive three-story mansion in the wealthy Waterkloof neighborhood.
Arnold Pistorius, who is Oscar’s uncle and a very rich person, has hired guards with guns and dogs and put up razor wire and electric fences around his property because he is worried about possible revenge attacks.
His nephew will be watched closely by officials until his whole punishment is finished in December 2029.
Pistorius had his legs removed when he was a baby, but he went on to win two gold medals and a silver at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. He later inspired many people by competing in the Olympics.
The crime was very surprising in South Africa and around the world. More than ten years later, we still don’t know if the ‘Blade Runner’ knew who he was shooting at.
Pistorius said he thought Reeva was a burglar. Her family thinks he wanted to kill the 29-year-old model and lawyer after they had a fight.
The only person who knows, and will probably be the only one, is the man himself.
He was believed to have known that someone would likely be killed when he shot at the bathroom door, but it wasn’t clear who he thought would be hurt.
After he was let go, Reeva’s mother, June Steenkamp, said she was okay with the decision to let her daughter’s killer go free. But she also said her family was the one suffering forever because of it.
Mrs Steenkamp said she is happy with the rules set by the parole board. The rules include anger management classes and programs about violence against women. She also said that these decisions have made her and Barry feel good about the South African justice system.
Barry Steenkamp, her husband, passed away in September.
Has Reeva gotten fairness. Has Oscar been in prison long enough. It’s hard to get justice when someone you love is gone forever. No amount of time in prison can bring Reeva back. We are the ones left behind, serving a long time in prison.
She said: “I just want to be able to live my last years peacefully and focus on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to carry on Reeva’s legacy. ”
During his last parole hearing, June Steenkamp said that her life feels like it will be full of pain and loneliness after her husband died.
She said she and Barry had ‘big dreams’ for their daughter. Their daughter was also an activist fighting against violence against women in South Africa. This was before her own death, which was very sad.
“Did Reeva’s dreams come true. ” June Steenkamp asked in a statement that day. “No way”
She said they both have been under a lot of pressure.
“My friend Barry died feeling very sad because he thought he couldn’t protect his daughter. I believe he died of a broken heart,” the statement said.
Barry Steenkamp met Oscar Pistorius last year as part of his recovery.
Steemkamp said she doesn’t think her daughter’s killer is sorry, but she forgave him a long time ago because she knew she couldn’t go on if she stayed angry.
Rob Matthews, a man from South Africa, spoke on behalf of the family. His own daughter was killed in 2004, and he had become a friend of the Steenkamp family because they shared a similar pain from their losses.
Mr Matthews observed that Pistorius was granted parole just one day before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Tania Koen, the lawyer for the Steenkamp family, summed it up when she talked about whether it was fair for Pistorius to be released.
She said that even if he went to prison for a long time, it wouldn’t really change anything for Steenkamp’s family after her death.
“Mrs Koen said that for them, it’s like being in prison for the rest of their lives. “
