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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Pistorius 'With Family' After Release From Jail

The disgraced athlete begins house arrest in Pretoria - 12 months after starting a five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend.

Oscar Pistorius is with his family after his release on parole "but his sentence continues", a family spokesman has said.
The athlete was freed a day early - after a year behind bars - and will now serve the rest of his five-year sentence under house arrest.
He is expected to live at the home of his uncle Arnold Pistorius in a smart suburb of Pretoria - the same address where he lived while on bail during the lengthy trial in Pretoria last year.
Family spokesman Anneliese Burgess told reporters: "It is very important for the family to emphasise that Oscar's sentence hasn't been shortened or reduced.
"He's simply entering the next phase of his sentence now and he will serve this under the strict conditions that govern correctional supervision.
"The family will support Oscar as he serves out the remaining sentence handed down by the trial judge and he will strictly adhere to the conditions set by the Parole Board and Community Corrections."
The terms of his release have not been made public but are likely to allow some movement and a job approved by authorities. Pistorius will not be allowed to leave the country during the house arrest.
His parole conditions include a continuation of the psychiatric treatment he received in prison, and a ban on possessing firearms.
A correctional services spokesman has not ruled out allowing Pistorius to return to training, and it is not thought he will be required to wear an electronic tag.
However, it is possible he may need to complete some community service, like other parolees in South Africa.
Pistorius' legal team claims he is desperate to put his life back together and eventually wants to work with disadvantaged youngsters.
Jenny Strydom, a friend of Reeva Steenkamp's family, said Pistorius was serving the remainder of his sentence "in a five-star way".
She added: "it will be a lot easier than prison, put it that way. At least he'll be able to eat steak and chips."
Tania Koen, lawyer for the Steenkamp family, said: "They don't want to avenge Reeva's death, nothing will bring Reeva back.
"They don't mean Oscar any harm, even though they do feel that justice must be served."
The 28-year-old was found guilty of culpable homicide, the equivalent of manslaughter, in September 2014 after a seven-month trial.
Ms Steenkamp died when he fired four 9mm shots through a locked toilet door at his gated home on 14 February 2013.
Pistorius told the court in Pretoria he had mistaken her for a burglar and was acting in self-defence.
Prosecutors are currently appealing the culpable homicide verdict, arguing it should be murder because Pistorius must have known the person behind the door could be killed.
The appeal is due to be heard on 3 November. If successful, Pistorius could be sent back to jail before the end of the year - and would face a minimum of 15 years behind bars. South Africa no longer has the death penalty.
Known as "Blade Runner" because of his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius became one of the biggest names in world athletics at the London 2012 Olympics when he reached the semi-finals of the men's 400m against able-bodied athletes.
South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime.

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