Oscar Pistorius has been released from jail. The former Olympian, known as the Blade Runner, served 364 days of his 5-year prison sentence in the South African jail in Pretoria before he was released on Monday, Oct. 19. It was reported that Pistorius, a double amputee, was released on parole and placed under house arrest.
According to The Telegraph, Pistorius is required to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest and will be confined at his uncle's home in Pretoria. The former Olympian was reportedly freed early due to South African's sentencing guidelines that say non-dangerous prisoners should spend only one-sixth of a custodial sentence behind bars. Under his parole conditions, the 28-year-old is required to undergo psychotherapy and is not allowed to own a gun.
The Daily Mail has revealed more details of Pistorius' low-key release, which is believed to have been done on Monday night to avoid media frenzy. The website reports that his family and lawyers were not informed of his release up until the athlete changed out of his prison uniform and back into his own clothes. A source at the Pretoria jail said that it is the prison's prerogative to organize Pistorius' release.
"We concluded that avoiding media scrum would best serve the interests of the offender, his lawyers, family, as well as the family of the victim," said the source to Daily Mail. The insider added that the decision was made "out of consideration for public safety."
Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide after he shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. On Valentines Day of 2013, Pistorius shot the model through a locked door as he said he thought at the time that his home has was breached by an intruder.
On Nov. 3, Pistorius will face another ordeal as prosecutors will make their appeal to the South African Supreme Court for a murder conviction rather than culpable homicide, which is the equivalent of manslaughter.
