Oscar Pistorius out of prison after serving 9 yrs for murder

Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole early Friday morning and was believed to be at his uncle's mansion after authorities secretly moved the world-famous double-amputee athlete who killed his girlfriend at an undisclosed time to avoid the glare of news crews waiting outside the jail.

South Africa's Department of corrections announced in a two-sentence statement at around 8:30 am that Pistorius had been released and was "now at home."

It gave no more details other than to confirm his new status as "a parolee" and Pistorius remained hidden from public view.

Pistorius, 37, served nearly nine years of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months for the fatal shooting of model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. He became eligible for early release having served at least half his sentence, and then was approved for parole in November.

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee who became a global star competing at his sport's highest level while running on carbon-fiber blades, was released from prison on Friday after serving nearly nine years for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp.