Oscar Pistorius's family have spoken of their joy after the sprinter was released from prison after serving just a year for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar is here and home with his family': Pistorius family's joy as he is removed from prison under cover of darkness to serve five-year sentence at uncle's luxury villa

Pistorius was jailed last year for killing Steenkamp (left), a model and law graduate Pic credit: Daily Mail

The Paralympian was freed under house arrest under the cover of darkness a day earlier than planned and will serve the rest of his five-year sentence at his uncle's palatial home in Pretoria.

It is believed he will have access to a swimming pool, satellite TV and large gardens as well as being given the opportunity to keep up a training regime as part of his parole conditions.

Speaking outside the house, Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, confirmed that 'Oscar is here and home with his family'. 

Parole conditions already announced include that Pistorius, a gun enthusiast, must undergo psychotherapy and is not allowed to possess a firearm. 

Further details are expected to be confirmed today and are expected to include him undertaking a period of community service.

A glimpse of the palatial home of Oscar's Uncle in Pretoria where he will spend the rest of his sentence

Justice Minister Michael Masutha – who halted the sprinter's release two months ago – has ordered that he must meet Reeva's parents as part of his early release deal.

Last night, the spokeswoman for Barry and June Steenkamp said the couple had not been notified about the secret timing of her killer's exit from jail and were informed by the media.

For the last 11 months, Pistorius has spent up to 23 hours a day in virtual isolation on the prison's hospital wing. 

Pistorius, 28, was initially due to be freed in August, but intervention by the minister of justice led to a series of delays before a parole board decision last Thursday.

However, he still faces an appeal in the Supreme Court next month, which if successful, will upgrade his charge to murder and see him re-jailed for a minimum of 15 years. 

In a trial that made headlines around the world, Pistorius was jailed last year for killing Steenkamp, a model and law graduate.

He was found guilty of culpable homicide - a charge equivalent to manslaughter - after saying he shot her through a locked bathroom door because he mistook her for an intruder. 

Last week a spokeswoman for Barry and June Steenkamp confirmed they had received a call from the parole board notifying them of their decision to released Pistorius.

'We were not surprised to hear their decision, we had been expecting that,' she said.

The Steenkamps had expressed their objection to the idea that their daughter's killer should be freed only eleven months after he was jailed, prior to a the announcement in June that Pistorius was due to be moved to 'correctional supervision' in August.

'For our beautiful daughter - for anyone's life - it's definitely not long enough,' Steenkamp's mother told You Magazine, a South African tabloid.

'She was robbed of her future, her career, her chance to get married and have a baby.'

Steenkamp would have turned 32 in August this year.

Once a poster boy for Paralympic sport, Pistorius, known as the 'Blade Runner' for the prosthetic legs he wore on the track, rose to global fame when he raced against able-bodied competitors in the 2012 London Olympics.

Daily Mail UK