South African athlete Oscar Pistorius to be released on parole after nearly 9 years in prison

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is due to be released from prison on parole Friday, more than a decade after he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a Valentine’s Day killing that shattered the reputation of a sporting superstar

PRETORIA, South Africa -- South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was due to be released from prison on parole Friday, more than a decade after he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a Valentine's Day killing that shattered the reputation of a sports superstar.

Television crews, photographers and news reporters gathered outside the gates of the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in the South African capital of Pretoria before 6 a.m., waiting to catch a glimpse of the world-famous double-amputee Olympic runner.

Department of Corrections officials have said that Pistorius' release time on Friday will not be announced ahead of time and he will not be “paraded,” indicating they will attempt to keep him away from the media glare that has trailed him since he shot Steenkamp multiple times through a toilet door at his home in the predawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013.

Officials are expected to transport Pistorius, 37, from the prison to a corrections department office to be processed before he is officially released on parole. He is expected to initially live at his uncle's mansion in the upscale Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof, where he lived during his murder trial and where he was held on house arrest for a period in 2015-2016.

Bright yellow traffic barriers have been placed across a road leading to his uncle's house, possibly in preparation for Pistorius' arrival.