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Watch: View of South Africa prison as Oscar Pistorius released on parole

Oliver Browning,Holly Patrick
Thursday 04 January 2024 21:59 GMT
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Watch live from outside a South African prison on Friday, 5 January, after Oscar Pistorius was released on parole after serving nine years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The former Paralympic star is admitted to the system of community corrections and is now at home, South Africa’s Correctional Services Department said.

Pistorius, 37, claimed he thought Ms Steenkamp was an intruder when he shot her, 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 was later sentenced to 13 years in prison after prosecutors won an appeal on the grounds that his initial sentence was too lenient.

Last November, a parole board hearing at Atteridgeville prison set his release for 5 January.

Though no longer in prison, Pistorius is to remain under close supervision and will be subject to parole conditions until his sentence expires in December 2029.

He will not be allowed to consume alcohol and other prohibited substances and will be barred from conducting media interviews, the Department of Correctional Services said.

Pistorius is now reportedly a grey haired smoker who has turned to religion.

He will be on parole a few miles away from the South African capital behind the high walls of his wealthy uncle’s guarded property.

Pistorius will be required to attend therapy for anger issues and “gender-based violence issues”, as well as completing community service.

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