On January 5, local time, Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympic champion and known as the "Blade Warrior", was released on parole, which means that his nearly nine-year prison career came to an end.
Oscar Pistorius before the court according to IC photo
On Valentine's Day, February 14, 2013, Pistorius fired several shots at a locked bathroom door, killing his model girlfriend Liva Steenkamp, who was in the bathroom. According to his own defense, it was an accident and that he shot his girlfriend after mistaking it for an intruder. After several hearings in 2014, Pistorius pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Eventually, Pistorius' charge was changed from "manslaughter" to "murder" and he was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in prison.
Oscar Pistorius and Liva Steenkamp Photo by IC photo
In South Africa, murder is generally punishable by a minimum sentence of more than 15 years, but judges have the power to reduce the sentence based on a variety of factors. In the case of the "Blade" shooting his girlfriend, the judge considered that he had shown sufficient remorse and a desire to mend his ways. The presiding judge once described Pistorius as a "fallen hero", believing that his conscience would be tormented and tortured.
Under South African law, a convict can apply for parole after the halfway point of his sentence. Last November, the South African Correctional Service announced that Pistorius had been granted parole application. According to foreign media reports, after being released on parole, he will complete the remaining sentence in the community correctional system and be supervised on parole before the completion of his sentence in December 2029.
The 37-year-old is a world-renowned para track and field athlete known as the "Blade Warrior" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics. In 2012, he became the first double-leg amputee to be allowed to compete in an Olympic sprint. In addition, he has six Paralympic gold medals.
Edited by Ou Peng
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