image

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.