Oscar Pistorius has been freed from prison tonight having served just 12 months of a five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Paralympian, 28, is now at his uncle’s mansion where he will see out the rest of the term under house arrest. His lawyer Brian Webber confirmed the release and said: “He is at home already.”

He will be required to meet Steenkamp’s parents Barry and June “if and when they agree to meet
him”, said correctional services minister Michael Masutha. Lawyers for the athlete, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ have previously indicated he is keen to arrange such a meeting.

Mr and Mrs Steenjamp had appealed against the double-amputee’s early release under correctional supervision but did not make further representations to the parole board that authorised his release last week.

Pistorius’s release from Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria is a day earlier than expected. He had been jailed for shooting his 29-year-old model girlfriend through a locked bathroom door in the early hours of St Valentine’s Day 2013.

Prosecutors plan to appeal to South Africa’s Supreme Court to get the sentence upgraded to murder - meaning Pistorius could face a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted.