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Associated Press

Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison a day early

The Paralympian was allowed out of prison in Pretoria a day early in an apparent attempt to avoid media coverage.

OSCAR PISTORIUS WAS released from jail late yesterday, South African officials said, and will serve his remaining sentence under house arrest after a year behind bars for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Paralympian star was allowed out of prison in the capital Pretoria a day early in an apparent attempt to avoid media coverage of his release.

Pistorius family spokesman Anneliese Burgess said that he was at his uncle Arnold’s house in Pretoria, adding that the family was “hunkered down”.

She said that the family would issue a statement later today.

Pistorius, 28, was granted parole following several delays to his original release date after he had served one sixth of his five-year sentence for shooting dead Steenkemp, a model and law graduate.

“Oscar Pistorius was placed under correctional supervision tonight,” correctional services department spokesman Manelisi Wolela said in a statement last night.

“The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative that is carried out in the best interest of all parties concerned, the victims, the offender and the Department of Correctional Services.”

Pistorius had been due to be released today.

“It will be very good. He should have been released on August 21,” his lawyer Brian Webber told AFP, hours before his release.

Last year Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide — a charge equivalent to manslaughter — after telling the court that he shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door because he mistook her for an intruder.

He faces a further test at the Supreme Court on November 3 when prosecutors will appeal for a murder conviction and a tougher sentence that could see him jailed for at least 15 years.

More therapy, no guns 

The ENCA news channel said Pistorius’ parole conditions included an instruction that he must meet Steenkamp’s parents if they wish to do so.

Her parents had contested his early release, but said no sentence would bring back their daughter.

“He would normally be expected to report to the police periodically. There may be provision for drug tests and there will be random visits by correctional services,” criminal lawyer Martin Hood told AFP.

“If he doesn’t comply, he loses the privilege of correctional supervision and can go back to prison.”

The Department of Correctional Services earlier announced he would undergo “continued psychotherapy” and face restrictions on owning firearms.

Pistorius was jailed on October 21 last year after a six-month trial that made headlines around the world.

The prosecution said he killed Steenkamp in a fit of rage, firing four shots through the locked door.

They described the double amputee as an egotistical liar obsessed with guns, fast cars and beautiful women, who was not prepared to take responsibility for his actions.

During proceedings, Pistorius often broke down, weeping and at times vomiting as he heard how her head “exploded” like a watermelon under the impact of his hollow-point bullets.

The court heard transcripts of phone messages in which the pair argued, Steenkamp, 29, texting: “I’m scared of you sometimes, of how you snap at me.”

‘Two oscars’

Defence lawyers sought to explain there are “two Oscars” — a world-class athlete, and a vulnerable individual with a serious disability who acted out of fear, not anger, when he fired the fatal shots.

The athlete was known as “Blade Runner” for the prosthetic limbs he wore on the track.

Before he shot Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, he was hailed as a role model around the world.

His fame reached a peak when he raced against able-bodied competitors in the 2012 London Olympics.

Pistorius – whose legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old – has lost his lucrative contracts and has no immediate hope of salvaging his athletic career.

In the early hours of this morning, media gathered outside the house in Waterkloof, a wealthy suburb in Pretoria, where Pistorius will spend his house arrest.

The house is surrounded by a high brick wall and black metal gates.

- © AFP, 2015

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Read: After killing of Garda Tony Golden, majority of people think laws on bail are too soft

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    Mute Wolfe Stirfry
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:05 AM

    A day early? More like 15 years early!

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    Mute ☆♬Andrew Byrne ♬☆
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:08 AM

    Don’t exaggerate Journal. He is actually released 4 years and 1 day early.

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    Mute Declan Doyle
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:12 AM

    Oscar Piss-takius!

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    Mute shelly
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:11 AM

    OJ Simpson (mark2)

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    Mute Raymond Power
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:31 AM

    how can you possibly explain serving one sixth of the sentence…complete insult to that girl and her family!

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    Mute Davy Boy
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:26 AM

    House arrest in his uncle luxury estate justice indeed

    59
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    Mute James Darcy
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    Oct 20th 2015, 12:07 PM

    He sold that to pay the legal fees!

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    Mute Graham Cunningham
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    Oct 20th 2015, 9:01 AM

    There’s rumours Oscar Pistorius might have to wear an electronic tag on his leg while he’s on house arrest. *Two months later “Congratulations, Mr Pistorius. The tag says you’ve not left the wardrobe since your release.”

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    Mute Blathnaid1986
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:06 AM

    He can run but he can’t hide, well now he can actually

    46
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    Mute Alan
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:48 AM

    Isn’t it great how the amount of money you have decides how much the law applies to you.

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    Mute jack frost
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:13 AM

    He is out ! And a marked man !!

    27
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    Mute de la Rey
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:11 AM

    Lawyers (once again) and Pistorius the only winners in this travesty of justice

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 20th 2015, 1:43 PM

    He gets therapy and gun owning “restrictions”, she got her head blown off. If it was my daughter I know what I would be doing.

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    Mute Andrew Byrne
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:20 AM

    I know what I’d do if that were me. I’d go have some drinks and get absolutely legless to celebrate my new found freedom :D

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    Mute Lisa :)
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:54 AM

    Glad he has got out, miscarriage of justice.. As the article points out above, he was a vulnerable man who had hardships in life and from the trial was someone who was very nervous about being robbed and was just a tragic accident..

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    Mute Michael
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    Oct 20th 2015, 9:54 AM

    please tell me you’re having a laugh!!!!!

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Oct 20th 2015, 10:54 AM

    @ Lisa. Please get down off your unicorn and join the real world

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    Mute Lisa :)
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    Oct 20th 2015, 11:52 AM

    Oh I’m in the real world alright, thanks though..

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    Mute James Darcy
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    Oct 20th 2015, 12:10 PM

    Completely agree – lived in SA for a year and left after a colleague was shot in his home!.. People have no idea what it’s like to live there where there are 90+ murders a day.

    Also we should consider house arrest in Ireland for non violent crime.

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    Mute bingo
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    Oct 20th 2015, 3:35 PM

    Lisa, He broke the law. No matter how scared he was (in his gated community with “electrified fences, armed 24-hour security guards and manned controlled access”…eye roll!)….that doesn’t make it ok for him to shoot his girlfriend dead. Ever heard of a warning shot!? Not only do you not know what justice is…you are extremely naïve – I recommend you never leave the house.

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    Mute Lisa :)
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    Oct 20th 2015, 4:19 PM

    As someone who has a masters in law I’m well aware of the facts so thanks for pointing them out to me anyhow. And also I’m entitled to my opinion!

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    Mute bingo
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    Oct 20th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Lisa, Absolutely – you are entitled to your opinion. But on what legal basis was it a miscarriage of justice? Surely a miscarriage of justice generally refers to the conviction of an innocent person or some other prejudice, error of law, false evidence, false witness testimony…. How was it a miscarriage of justice? It can’t just be a miscarriage of justice because you like someone or believe their story and feel sorry for them.

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    Mute Lisa :)
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    Oct 20th 2015, 5:16 PM

    I don’t feel sorry for him or any of that, I don’t care who he is, it would be the same if he was a man from the streets, but it was shown he had a difficult life, previous robberies, had a fear if you will of this sort of thing, regardless if he lived in a gated community, I know it wouldnt make me feel anymore secure, intruders have their ways.. I just feel in this instance it was wrong that he be jailed.

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    Mute Michael
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    Oct 20th 2015, 6:09 PM

    I watched most of the trial and it was more apparent that he was a narcissistic , jealous individual, who had a bad temper and contempt for authority. He fired off rounds before in anger – even in a restaurant and pressurized his friend to take responsibility. When he could not answer a question in court, he either ‘couldn’t remember’, or would start sobbing. If it was your sister, daughter or friend Lisa, I really doubt you would be satisfied with his sentence for shooting several rounds through a locked bathroom door- who in their right mind would not check where their other half is, or at least shout on them before firing several rounds through a locked door. Their legal system is a farce – as is his sentence!!!!

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    Mute bingo
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    Oct 20th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Michael, Totally agree. A total narcissist. His behaviour throughout the trial and his failure to serve his sentence proves to me that the man has no conscience. He only every seemed to feel sorry for himself. Disturbing that he has effectively gotten away with it.

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    Mute bingo
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    Oct 20th 2015, 7:09 PM

    Lisa, So there was no miscarriage of justice then….? I hoped with you background you would have one. It is precisely because of cases like this that the facts need to be judged. While you have assumed one motive…I have assumed the complete opposite…and it is impossible for either you or me to know what his true motivation was…as in kill my girlfriend…or protection. For me his story was absolutely incredible. Ultimately though, based on facts, no body, no matter how bad their life or how nervous they are, should get away with shooting an innocent person through a door.

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    Mute gary kelly
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    Oct 20th 2015, 8:44 AM

    It’s sth Africa.anything goes there

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    Mute John Errity
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    Oct 20th 2015, 11:46 AM

    sure what trouble could he get into at home

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Oct 20th 2015, 9:55 AM

    “House arrest” means “within the boundary walls”. He will still be able to walk around the garden freely.
    Tough having to spend your sentence in a palatial house with a palatial garden.
    Given the house and the location there is almost certainly a heated swimming pool out the back as well.
    Poor fella.

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    Mute Linda O'Connor
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    Oct 20th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Followed this case he is an angry man, I don’t have a masters in Law, but then either does the Jury, I hope they won’t be sorry for his early release that he doesn’t go hurting anyone else.

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    Mute Ger
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    Oct 20th 2015, 6:32 PM

    You can’t have followed it too closely, there is no jury in South African law.

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    Mute Linda O'Connor
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    Oct 21st 2015, 9:46 AM

    Jury in general

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    Mute Leo Powers
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    Oct 20th 2015, 9:24 AM

    Hope he has an ankle tag at least!

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