Family happy as Oscar Pistorius released from prison

Oscar Pistorius’ relatives say they’re happy to have the former Olympic athlete home from prison as he begins the house arrest portion of his sentence.

“The family will support Oscar as he serves out the remainder of the 5-year sentence handed down by the trial judge,” spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said Tuesday. “He will strictly adhere to the conditions set by the Parole Board and Community Corrections.”

Pistorius was released from a South African prison Monday and is staying at his uncle’s house.

He had been in prison since October last year, when a judge sentenced him to five years for culpable homicide in the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius shot the model and law school graduate on Valentine’s Day 2013. He has said he mistook her for an intruder.

Last week a South African parole board said it had approved his placement under house arrest and correctional supervision for four years.

South Africa’s correctional services act allows convicted criminals who have served at least one-sixth of their sentence to serve the remainder under house arrest.

Burgess repeated several times on Tuesday that his sentence hadn’t been shortened or reduced with his release.

A week before her death, South African model Reeva Steenkamp talked about her secure, blissful environment. "I woke up in a happy, safe home this morning," she tweeted. "Not everyone did."

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The release didn’t matter much to Steenkamp’s family, according to their lawyer Tania Koen.

His release “doesn’t make any difference to the Steenkamps; ultimately, their daughter is not coming back,” Koen said. “They don’t have a feeling of revenge, and they’ve forgiven Oscar Pistorius.”

‘Blade Runner’

News of Steenkamp’s killing stunned the nation, where Pistorius is nicknamed the “Blade Runner” because he ran on special carbon-fiber prostheses.

Despite having both legs amputated below the knee as a toddler, he excelled in sports, representing his country in the Paralympic Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

Steenkamp was found shot to death in his home, and he acknowledged firing the fatal shots through his bathroom door.

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius shakes hands as he leaves a courtroom in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, July 6. Pistorius, the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, was sentenced to six years in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, in February 2013.

Pistorius walks without his prosthetic legs during his sentencing hearing in Pretoria on Wednesday, June 15. His attorney was arguing that he was a vulnerable figure who should receive a lesser sentence for murder.

Pistorius arrives outside a courtroom in Pretoria in October 2014. He was initially convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison, but a higher court reversed it to murder after an appeal.

A picture taken on January 26, 2013, shows Pistorius and Steenkamp at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. Pistorius said her shooting death was an accident after he mistook her for an intruder. The prosecution called it a deliberate act after the two had an argument.

Pistorius puts his head in his hands during his trial in South Africa in March 2014. Pistorius often showed great emotion as the court went into detail about Steenkamp's death.

Pistorius leaves a police station with his face covered in February 2013.

Pistorius won gold for the first time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. He won the 200-meter final and set a new world record. The South African sprinter was called the "Blade Runner" because of his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs.

Prosthetic legs stand on the ground as Pistorius coaches children in Manchester, England, in April 2006.

Pistorius competes in a 400-meter race in Berlin in June 2008.

Pistorius is seen in Rome during a race in July 2008.

Pistorius wins gold ahead of Americans Jerome Singleton, left, and Marlon Shirley, right, in the 100-meter T44 during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Pistorius poses with his medals from the IPC Athletics World Championships in January 2011. He won three world titles there but lost the 100-meter T44 final to Singleton. It was his first loss in a race over 100 meters since the 2004 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius passes the baton to Ofentse Mogawane in a 4x400-meter relay race during the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in September 2011. Pistorius was the first double-amputee athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships.

Pistorius races in the men's 400 meters during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Pistorius competes in the London Olympics.

Pistorius carries the South African flag during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter T44 heat at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius poses on the podium with his gold medal after winning the men's 400-meter T44 final at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius receives his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2012.

'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius

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Last year, a judge found him “negligent” in Steenkamp’s death. But the judge said he did not commit murder nor did he intend to kill her.

Prosecutors are appealing the verdict, believing Pistorius, who is now 28, should be convicted of murder.

The state’s appeal is set to take place next month.

Steenkamp’s family is willing to meet Pistorius, their lawyer said. But not now, and only later if Pistorius initiates it.

“They will meet … but only when the time is right,” said the lawyer, Koen. “And that time is after appeal, when the legal system has taken its course.”

CNN’s Brett Swails reported from South Africa. CNN’s Greg Botelho and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.