At Last! Pistorius granted parole 10 years after killing girlfriend

Jailed South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole after serving nine years for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The famous ‘blade runner’ will not be released until January 5, according to officials

The record-breaking Paralympic champion went from grace to grass after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend in hearings that shook the world of sport and beyond.

Pistorius fired and killed Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was a law graduate and successful model before her murder.

Pistorius, now 37, testified at trial that he thought there was an intruder in the house and that Ms Steenkamp was still in bed.

He was found guilty of murder in 2015 by the Supreme Court of Appeal after initially being convicted of culpable homicide.

“Mr Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires,” the Department of Correctional Services said on Friday.

The Department of Corrections earlier hinted that if Pistorius is granted parole, he might not be released immediately, and it is up to the parole board “to work out the placement date.”

Pistorius gained widespread popularity as a “blade runner.” He relied on prosthetics to compete in athletic competitions.

His lower legs were amputated when Pistorius was less than a year old.

At the Paralympics, he won several gold medals for South Africa. At the London 2012 Olympics, he also competed against non-disabled athletes.