Oscar Pistorius Seen in Public for First Time Since Released on Parole

Oscar Pistorius, the former South African Paralympic athlete convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, has been spotted in public for the first time since his release three months ago.

The 37-year-old, who is serving the remainder of his 13-year murder sentence with limited freedom, was seen smiling and dressed casually as he made his way to his parole office in Pretoria.

Exclusive photos obtained by the Mail show Pistorius appearing to have lost weight and aged, with fully grey and thinning hair. The once famous athlete has also had to be fitted with new prosthetic legs after losing a significant amount of weight since his release from prison. He has traded in his fast sports cars for an old gray SUV.

Under his parole conditions, Pistorius is barred from conducting media interviews or posting on social media, and he is also not allowed to contact Reeva Steenkamp's family. He is currently residing at his uncle's £2 million mansion in Waterkloof, Pretoria, where he spends most of his time praying, playing video games, and greeting friends and family. The former athlete is required to hold hands and pray with his uncle and aunt before meals.

Why this matters: The release of Oscar Pistorius on parole has reignited the debate around justice and rehabilitation in high-profile criminal cases. As a once celebrated Paralympic athlete, Pistorius's fall from grace and the brutal murder of his girlfriend shocked the world, and his early release has sparked mixed reactions from the public.

Pistorius has volunteered to be the caretaker of his local church, where he is described as not being friendly or outgoing. Friends of Reeva Steenkamp have expressed their distress at seeing Pistorius "smiling like he doesn't have a care in the world."

"June [Reeva's mother] has always said she doesn't want revenge, she just wants Pistorius to admit he murdered her daughter in cold blood. Seeing him smiling like he doesn't have a care in the world is heartbreaking," a friend told the Mail. Pistorius will remain on parole until his murder sentence expires in 2029.

Key Takeaways

• Oscar Pistorius, convicted of killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, released on parole.
• Pistorius has lost weight, aged, and now uses new prosthetic legs.
• Pistorius is barred from media, social media, and contacting Steenkamp's family.
• Pistorius's release reignites debate on justice and rehabilitation in high-profile cases.
• Pistorius will remain on parole until his murder sentence expires in 2029.