Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius released from prison after serving 9 years for murder of girlfriend

Pistorius was convicted of murder in the 2013 shooting death of his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole on Friday after serving nearly nine years for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day in 2013.

Pistorius, once hailed an inspiration as a double-amputee Olympic runner competing against able-bodied athletes, was serving a 13-year sentence at Atteridgeville Correctional Center in the South African capital of Pretoria.

Little details surrounding his release were available, but the announcement from the country's Department of Corrections came at around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to The Associated Press.

Pistorius was convicted of murder in 2015 and sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison. In South Africa, serious offenders are eligible for parole after serving at least half of their sentence.

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Left: Slain model Reeva Steenkamp with her killer, Oscar Pistorius, Jan. 13, 2013. (Waldo Swiegers/Mike Holmes both via Getty )

Pistorius was granted parole on Nov. 24 under various conditions, including that he not leave the area of Pretoria, the Department of Corrections said at the time. He is set to live at his uncle's mansion in the upscale suburb of Waterkloof, according to the AP.

Oscar Pistorius in the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. An appeals court found Pistorius guilty of murder and not a lesser charge of culpable homicide for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.  (AP Photo/Alon Skuy, Pool via AP) (AP Photo/Alon Skuy, Pool via AP)

He will also be required to attend a program to deal with his anger issues and will have to perform community service. His parole conditions will be in place for five years.

Oscar Pistorius starts in the men's semi-finals of the 400-meter at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

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Pistorius testified at his murder trial that he killed Steenkamp, 29, by mistake, thinking she was a dangerous intruder hiding in his bathroom in the middle of the night when he fired four times through the door with his licensed 9mm pistol. 

Prosecutors argued that Pistorius killed her in a rage after she had fled to the toilet cubicle during a late-night argument.

FILE - This Nov. 4, 2012 file photo shows Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP Photo/City Press, Lucky Nxumalo)   (The Associated Press)

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Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide, which is comparable to manslaughter, in her death. That conviction was overturned and he was convicted of murder after an appeal by prosecutors. 

FILE - A mourner carries a program at the funeral for Reeva Steenkamp, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on Feb. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

They also appealed against an initial sentence of six years for murder, and Pistorius was ultimately sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison.

Fox News Digital reached out to the South Africa Department of Corrections, but did not hear back by time of publication.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan and Rebecca Rosenberg, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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