On Friday, Oscar Pistorius was granted parole nearly 10 years after he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
According to Fox News, the 37-year-old former Paralympic athlete was given the decision by the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa, effective Jan. 5.
There are conditions, however.
Pistorius cannot leave the area of Pretoria, located about 40 miles north of Johannesburg. He is also required to attend a program to assist with his anger issues and is subject to community service. The parole conditions will be in place for five years.
On Valentine’s Day, 2013, Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp, claiming he thought she was an intruder. In the country of South Africa, the minimum sentence for murder is 15 years, however, the judge in the case called Pistorius a “fallen hero” and he had “substantial and compelling circumstances.” He then was labeled as a good candidate for rehabilitation.
He was sentenced to six years in prison.
This was after he was convicted of manslaughter and served a one-year sentence. However, his conviction was increased to murder when prosecutors appealed to South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal.
The defense initially requested no jail time and instead asked Pistorius be allowed to do charity work instead.
[Fox News]
