In October of 2014, Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of shooting and killing his 29-year-old model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Today, less than one year later, Pistorius is a free man, having been secretively released from prison late last night in order to avoid media attention. Pistorius will now serve a four-year house arrest sentence at his uncle’s palatial mansion in Johannesburg. Pistorius was originally slated to be released in August, but angry letters from hundreds of outraged South Africans – including Steenkamp’s grieving parents – persuaded the nation’s justice minister to hold him for another two months. “We have forgiven Mr. Pistorius, read the letter from Steenkamp’s parents. “However, a person found guilty of a crime must be accountable for their actions. Incarceration of 10 months for taking a life is simply not enough.” A lawyer for the family says the Steenkamps are still angry, and still believe that justice was not served. Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide , which is comparable to manslaughter in the US justice system. The sprinter – nicknamed “Blade Runner” by fans – earned international fame after becoming the first double-amputee to participate in the Olympics. Many believe Pistorius received preferential treatment from the South African justice system.
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Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison; Olympian Served Less Than One Year For Murder of Reeva Steenkamp
