Paralympian gold medalist Oscar Pistorius will walk free from a South African prison on Friday 11 years after he killed his model girlfriend.
The double amputee was convicted of murdering Reeva Steenkamp after he shot her multiple times through a locked toilet door with a 9mm pistol on Valentine’s Day at their Pretoria home in 2013.
Now reportedly a grey haired smoker who has turned to religion, the 37-year-old will begin his new life on parole a few miles away from the South African capital behind the high walls of his wealthy uncle’s guarded property.
A gun enthusiast, Pistorius claimed he thought Ms Steenkamp was an intruder but was convicted of culpable homicide – a crime similar to manslaughter – in 2014.
He was found guilty of the more serious charge of murder in 2015 and he was later sentenced to 13 years in prison after prosecutors won an appeal on the grounds his initial sentence was too lenient.
Reeva Steenkamp would ‘light up any room’, mother says
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June described her daughter as “beautiful” who would light up a room with her presence in a victim impact statement given before Pistorius’s parole hearing last year.
Steenkamp’s family spokesperson, Rob Matthews, read a victim impact statement from June Steenkamp ahead of his hearing.
“Reeva was born a miracle, she entered our lives after medical experts predicted that I would have difficulty conceiving after a miscarriage. From a very young age, she had the ability to light up a room with her presence,” the statement read.
Mrs Steenkamp also said she did not believe Pistorius had thought her daughter was an intruder, which he claimed during his trial.
Despite saying her daughter’s death left a “massive hole” in the life of her family, she said she had forgiven Pistorius as she “would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger”.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother speaks of ‘beautiful’ daughter ahead of Pistorius hearing
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother discussed her “beautiful” daughter in a victim impact statement ahead of Oscar Pistorius’s parole hearing on Friday 24 November.
The former Paralympic champion shot and killed his girlfriend in 2013 at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, and was jailed for murder in 2016.
He will be released from prison on 5 January 2024 after he was granted parole on Friday.
Steenkamp’s family spokesperson, Rob Matthews, read a victim impact statement from June Steenkamp ahead of his hearing.
“Reeva was born a miracle, she entered our lives after medical experts predicted that I would have difficulty conceiving after a miscarriage,” the statement said. “From a very young age, she had the ability to light up a room with her presence.”
Religious and self help books can be seen stacked above Pistorius’s bed
(Supplied)
A religious themed pillow case sits on Pistorius’s bed. ‘I am who I am. This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation,’ it reads
(Supplied)
Prosthetic legs are seen propped up against a cabinet next to a toilet in Pistorius’s cell
(Supplied)
A handwritten and misspelt ‘Pistoruis. O’ is stuck to his cell door
In addition to his haul of three medals – two gold and one silver – Pistorius had become the first double-amputee to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.
The historic achievement cemented his place as a trailblazer and celebrated ambassador for disability sport. Read more about his fall from grace here:
Oscar Pistorius: From Olympic superstar to Pretoria prison
Double-amputee athlete was celebrated around the world before astonishing fall from grace
Paralympian gold medalist and murderer Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on Friday 11 years after killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The double amputee was convicted of murdering Reeva Steenkamp after he shot her multiple times through a locked toilet door with a 9mm pistol on Valentine’s Day at their Pretoria home in 2013.
But he is now set to be released on parole, and will live with his uncle on a high walled and closely guarded compound a few miles from Pretoria.
We will be bringing you all live updates, including pictures of Pistorius leaving prison, reaction to his early release, and explainers on what happened.
Pistorius, right, will walk free from prison 11 years after he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
(AP)
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
