The trial of “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius gripped the world in 2014 when he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. 

Now he’s facing a parole hearing to decide if he will get out of prison after serving half of his 13-year sentence, once again placing him in the spotlight.

Who is Oscar Pistorius?

Oscar Pistorius is a former Olympic and Paralympic athlete and a convicted murderer.

He was born in South Africa in 1986. At 11-months-old both his legs were amputated below the knee because of a congenital defect.

He ran on prosthetic blades – hence the nickname Blade Runner.

Until 2013, he was mostly known for his sporting prowess, winning gold at the Paralympics and making history as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics.

Then on the morning of 14 February 2013, Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend at his home in Pretoria, South Africa.

The murder of Reeva Steenkamp

Ms Steenkamp, 29, was shot dead by Pistorius while she was in the toilet.

Pistorius has always insisted the shooting was a mistake, saying he thought an intruder was in the house and he feared for his safety.

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He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, hitting Ms Steenkamp in the head, hip and arm.

Pistorius claimed in court it was only when he battered down the door with a cricket bat that he realised who was behind it.

The prosecution argued the murder was premeditated and Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp after an argument.

Part of their argument rested on saying Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting – they said the time taken to put them on was evidence of premeditation.

Pistorius testified he was on his stumps, a claim that was backed up by a ballistic expert’s analysis.

Changing charges and sentences

Pistorius was initially not found guilty of murder and was instead convicted of culpable homicide (the equivalent of a manslaughter charge in the UK).

He was sentenced to five years in 2014, and was eventually released from prison and placed under house arrest.

A year later, that conviction was overturned when South Africa’s supreme court of appeal found him guilty of murder.

He was sentenced to six years – which was then increased to 13 years and five months after the sentence was deemed “shockingly too lenient” in an appeal.

Parole hearing

Pistorius now faces a parole hearing that will decide if he will be freed from prison.

In South Africa prisoners become eligible for parole after serving half their sentence – which Pistorius has now done.

The parole board will determine whether Pistorius will be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence on licence at his uncle’s home in Pretoria.

Read more:
Oscar Pistorius ‘not remorseful or rehabilitated’, Reeva Steenkamp’s mother says
Oscar Pistorius injured in prison fight over phone

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Last year he met with Ms Steenkamp’s father as part of a process called victim-offender dialogue, which gives crime victims the chance to meet with offenders before they become eligible for parole.

Speaking ahead of the parole hearing, Ms Steenkamp’s mother said he was “not remorseful”.

A decision on his parole is expected to be announced in days or weeks, after the board has determined whether the “purpose of imprisonment has been served”, a spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services said.

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