Monitor star, convicted killer, now parolee. A timeline of Oscar Pistorius’s life

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Main moments within the lifetime of Oscar Pistorius, the South African double-amputee Olympic runner who was launched from jail on parole Friday having served almost 9 years of a homicide sentence for the 2013 killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius, 37, must dwell beneath strict circumstances till his full sentence of 13 years and 5 months expires on Dec. 5, 2029.

Nov. 22, 1986 — Pistorius is born with a congenital situation the place he has no fibula bones. His legs are amputated under the knee earlier than he’s a 12 months outdated.

Might 16, 2008 — Already a a number of Paralympic champion, Pistorius wins a ruling at sport’s highest court docket that overturns a earlier ban and permits him to compete towards able-bodied athletes on the world’s greatest observe occasions on his specifically designed carbon-fiber operating blades.

Aug. 4, 2012 — Pistorius realizes his sporting dream to compete on the Olympics. He finishes second in a warmth within the 400 meters to qualify for the semifinals in London however doesn’t qualify for the ultimate. “Blade Runner” nonetheless makes historical past as the primary double-amputee to run on the Olympics and turns into one of the recognizable athletes on the planet.

Feb. 14, 2013 — Pistorius is on the peak of his fame when South African police announce that he has been arrested in reference to the Valentine’s Day capturing demise of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his villa within the capital, Pretoria. The bombshell information reverberates world wide when Pistorius is charged with homicide for capturing the 29-year-old mannequin and regulation graduate a number of instances by a rest room cubicle door within the predawn hours.

Mar. 3, 2014 — Pistorius’ homicide trial begins on the Pretoria Excessive Court docket beneath the glare of the world’s media, which is permitted to movie the court docket proceedings dwell. Whereas Pistorius claims he shot Steenkamp by mistake believing she was a harmful intruder in his dwelling, prosecutors allege he killed her deliberately in a late-night argument. Throughout his dramatic seven-month trial, Pistorius cries, wails and at instances vomits within the courtroom as prosecutors describe Steenkamp’s deadly capturing. He additionally undergoes a psychiatric analysis. The trial shatters his picture as prosecutors say he has a historical past of offended outbursts, being verbally abusive in direction of girlfriends, and appearing recklessly with weapons.

Sept. 12, 2014 — Pistorius is acquitted of homicide by a choose however discovered responsible of a cost corresponding to manslaughter for killing Steenkamp. He’s additionally convicted on a separate cost regarding him and a bunch of associates recklessly firing a gun beneath a desk in a restaurant. He’s sentenced to 5 years in jail for manslaughter. Prosecutors say they are going to enchantment the “shockingly mild” sentence.

Dec. 3, 2015 — A panel of judges at South Africa’s Supreme Court docket of Attraction overturns Pistorius’ manslaughter conviction and finds him responsible of homicide. The trial choose sentences him to 6 years in jail for homicide, which prosecutors once more enchantment.

Nov. 24, 2017 — The Supreme Court docket of Attraction greater than doubles Pistorius’ sentence to 13 years and 5 months in jail. Pistorius had been first jailed on the Kgosi Mampuru II Jail in Pretoria, a infamous apartheid-era jail. He’s moved to the town’s Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, which officers say is best suited to disabled prisoners.

Jun. 22, 2022 — Pistorius meets face-to-face with Steenkamp’s father, Barry Steenkamp, as a part of a victim-offender dialogue that he should undertake if he needs to be eligible to be launched on parole. Barry Steenkamp, who died final 12 months, says after the assembly that he nonetheless believes Pistorius is mendacity about his daughter’s killing and needs him to remain in jail for all times.

Mar. 31, 2023 — Pistorius attends a parole listening to however is denied early launch. The Division of Corrections says he hasn’t served the required time in jail and can solely be eligible in August 2024. Authorities later concede that was an error on account of a miscount by a court docket over how lengthy Pistorius had already served in jail earlier than his sentence was modified in 2017.

Nov. 24, 2023 — Pistorius is granted parole at a second listening to and officers say he might be launched Jan. 5, though he’ll nonetheless be strictly monitored for the subsequent 5 years till he has served his total sentence.

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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa