Oscar Pistorius released from prison into house arrest

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was on Monday released from prison into house arrest, where he will serve the remainder of his five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013.

Pistorius had been in prison since October last year after a judge found him guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail.

The former athlete, in his defense said that he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder.

Steenkamp, who was a model and law school graduate, was found dead at Oscar’s home and he acknowledged to firing the fatal shots through a locked bathroom door.

Pistorius, 28, had been expected to leave prison on Tuesday but was released a day earlier to avoid media glare.

The double amputee athlete was driven to the home of his uncle outside Pretoria where he is expected to serve the rest of his five-year sentence. His family said they had not expected the early release adding that he would strictly adhere to his parole conditions.

South African law allows convicted criminals who served atleast a sixth of their sentence to be eligible for release under “correctional supervision”. This means Pistorius was eligible having served a sixth of his sentence.

Reeva Steenkamp’s family, however, is not pleased with his release saying he was “getting off lightly”.

A lawyer for Steenkamp family said “They are not at all surprised by this announcement. They expected this”. The lawyer also added “nothing had changed for Steenkamp’s family and that nothing will bring Reeva back”.

According to reports from BBC Reeva Steenkamp’s family might consider visiting Pistorius when the time is “right”. As a condition for his release Pistorius must meet with the Steenkamp family whenever they want to speak to him.

Other conditions for his parole include; continuation with his psychotherapy sessions, having no access to firearms, no drugs or alcohol, no going out at night among other limitations. Pistorius, however, will not be electronically tagged.

Meanwhile, the athlete’s family are happy to have him back home, adding that they will support him through the remainder of his sentence.

Despite having both his legs amputated when he was a toddler, “the blade runner” represented his country at the London 2012 Olympics, wearing carbon-fibre blades to compete against able- bodied athletes.

Prosecutors have lodged an appeal against the verdict arguing that Pistorius, should have been convicted of murder rather than culpable homicide.

The case is due to be heard by the supreme court on 3^rd November, if convicted of murder Pistorius could face a lengthy sentence back in prison.