We covered the entirety of the Oscar Pistorius trial up to his imminent release and Scott Roder, our Executive Evidence Specialist, even set out to South Africa to meet with Oscar and get the inside scoop about what happened the night he shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. (You can read about that trip here, as well as in Roder’s upcoming book, ‘A Leg to Stand On.’
The former paralympic champ will be leaving prison on Friday — but not before serving just half of his 13-year sentence for the crime. His trial was filled with mystique — twists and turns in his trial captivated those following the case as Oscar became a household name on the world stage yet again, this time for a darker reason.
Once just a humble six gold medalist, Pistorius’ name will now echo with the words ‘convicted murderer.’
So, what does this mean for Oscar? His career as an athlete is finished — sponsorships with brands are out of the question, he will most likely not be sought out much due to the dark stain of his conviction.
South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services said that in November, Oscar would complete the remainder of his sentence in the country’s community corrections system. The ‘Blade Runner’ will have to return to society with notoriety and will be under the supervision of the DCS and will be subjected to parole conditions until December of 2029.
These requirements include attending mandatory programs, not being allowed to consume alcohol or drugs, and a curfew.
Like others on parole in South Africa, he will be banned from being a part of media interviews. This will undoubtedly leave countless questions to those of us on the outside after Oscar’s release. However, the ban will eventually expire and Pistorius will be allowed to speak and tell his side of the story publicly, as a free man. This turns out to be heartbreaking for Reeva’s friends and family, who say that ‘every time we start processing and coming to terms with things, Oscar pops up.’
So, what was considered for his early release? From Reuters,
Several factors are typically taken into account by a parole board, including the nature of the crime, the possibility of reoffending, conduct in prison, physical and mental wellbeing and potential threats a prisoner may face if released.
Prior to his parole, Pistorius also participated in the restorative justice program – a system introduced after the end of apartheid to deal with apartheid-era crimes in a more participative and reconciliatory way. Pistorius was moved to a prison closer to where the Steenkamp family stayed in late 2021, ahead of reconciliation talks aimed at a potential early release from prison. He and the late Barry Steenkamp – Reeva’s father – participated in the victim-offender dialogue on June 22, 2022.’
Regardless of where you stand in regards to Oscar’s innocence, his release will undoubtedly create a media frenzy, as well as generate more questions than answers.
Roder’s book, ‘A Leg to Stand On,’ promises to answer some of those questions, provide a first hand account of the evening at hand, and give readers a side of the story the media may have left behind at the scene.
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