Photo: STR
It’s hard to imagine a prisoner who would be more disliked by the average person than Oscar Pistorius, who was released on parole. early release today.
“He's bad. He shouldn't be free now, he should be in jail for a long time,” a young woman said as she wheeled a cart through an upscale supermarket in Johannesburg on Thursday. «He killed her, his girlfriend.» And she clicked her tongue and walked away, shaking her head.
Has anyone else ever fallen so low and so quickly in the public eye? Before Pistorius, 37, killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in his apartment in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, he was a national hero — a double amputee, a «Blade Runner» who won six gold medals. medals and reached the semi-finals of the tournament. The 200m sprint at the London 2012 Olympics.
And he made money from these achievements, led a glamorous life, bought himself luxury property and received recognition locally and internationally.
Steenkamp has worked as a paralegal and model, and has also been the face of an anti-bullying campaign. She was exceptionally pretty and they were both a constant source of tabloid attention throughout their three-month relationship.
Reeva Steenkamp was 29 years old when she was killed. Photo: AP/Stimulii
Pistorius was found guilty of murder after firing four bullets through his body. his bedroom closet door while Steenkamp was inside. His trial in Pretoria captured the attention of the world's media, and outside the court there was often chaos as people tried to catch a glimpse of their fallen idol.
Today, prison authorities are at pains to avoid similar scenes as Pistorius prepares embark on a 12.5-mile journey under armed guard from prison to the luxurious home of his uncle Arnold Pistorius in the Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof, where he will now live. .
The timing of his release was kept secret, as was the route he was to take from prison.
However, it is common knowledge that Pistorius will be closely monitored until the end of his parole on December 5, 2029.
In a statement, the Department of Correctional Services said: “Pistorius will be subject to general parole conditions. For example, he is expected to be at home at certain times of the day. He must not consume alcohol or other illegal substances.” It states that Pistorius is prohibited from giving interviews to the media.
Pistorius recently said from prison that he was studying religion and could become a pastor after his release. Photo: Alon Sky/Pool Photo via A
On the eve of his parole, prison officials warned the media not to «camp outside correctional facilities» and to prohibit photography and «moving images of Pistorius.» The Correctional Service added: “Newly released parolees can be vulnerable and need a support system to adjust to normal life. The responsibility for such support rests with the carer (family).
He is under the supervision of the prison administration and has a supervisor assigned to him who will need to be kept informed if Pistorius decides to look for work or wants move home.
Pistorius will also have to attend gender-based violence programs and continue anger management therapy for the rest of his sentence.
Unlike most prisoners in South Africa, the former athlete felt calmer in prison. He had his own bathroom and did not have to share a cell because he was in a prison for the disabled.
His environment in prison was very different from his uncle's mansion. Photo: REUTERS/Sydney Seshibedi
However, the luxury of his uncle's Mansion, which is heavily guarded and equipped with electronic security equipment, will be a real step forward.
As for his career, his time as an athlete is over. He recently reported from prison that he was studying religion and might become a pastor after his release. But little information about Pistorius has leaked out during his time in prison, with only one image emerging — a short, unclear video of him playing football with jailed Czech gangster Radovan Krejcir.
Pistorius is known to have been out of prison twice, once briefly when his grandmother died and once when he traveled to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape in 2021 to meet Steenkamp's parents as part of a government program. “victim-offender dialogue.”
In this “dialogue” Pistorius saw only Reeva’s father, Barry Steenkamp, and his wife June chose not to participate.
On the eve of her parole hearing last November, she released a statement saying her husband had died. The 80-year-old is «broken-hearted» and unsure whether Pistorius has been exonerated. But she did not object to his parole and has remained silent since it was granted, living quietly on the rural family property where Riva also lived most of her life.
Several South African lawyers and others say they wanted the public to remember that Pistorius had several run-ins with the law and guns before he killed Steenkamp. He accidentally shot himself in one of the best restaurants in South Africa. He also fired through the sunroof of his car after an argument with a police officer.
Pistorius won six Paralympic gold medals. medals during his career. Photo: Dave Poultney/PA Wire
Ulrich Roux, a leading Johannesburg lawyer who followed Pistorius's trial closely and participated in several television debates on the case, said: «He was involved in a boat accident at the Vaal Dam [south of Johannesburg] where there was evidence that he was under arrest. the influence of alcohol while operating a boat. This time he also had a firearm with him. He was also involved in an incident at a party where he was charged with malicious damage to property and assault. He escaped all these charges, and his celebrity status played a big role in this.
“I firmly believe he felt invincible, the fame had gone to his head and he believed he could get away with anything. This contributed to the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp. In his heart of hearts he was convinced that whatever the outcome, he would escape any consequences, just as he had in the past.”
Pistorius is considered a model prisoner, but some say he often felt alone, because his older brother and sister, with whom he was close, left South Africa after his trial ended.
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