Oscar Pistorius 'not the same' as details emerge on killer's church trips following prison release

Pistorius always denied murder, insisting he mistook Reeva for an intruder.

He was initially sentenced to five years behind bars for culpable homicide in September 2014 before his sentence was upgraded to murder.

While he was sentenced to 13 years and five months, he was freed on parole in January having served more than half of his sentence.

Since being freed, the Blade Runner star has kept a low profile.

There are still no pictures of Pistorius in 2024, with the 37-year-old spending most of his time holed up in his uncle's mansion in Waterkloof.

Pistorius does, however, do volunteer work at NG Kerk Waterkloof, the Dutch Reformed Church attended by his uncle.

According to the New York Post, the former runner does 'light maintenance and janitorial work' while 'quietly' attending services.

And a couple of witnesses say he is unrecognisable from the man he once was.

​Aida Govender, who reportedly spotted Pistorius at church last month while visiting with her family members, said: "I almost didn't recognise him.

“His hair is longer and he’s got a beard. He’s also not as lean as I expected.

"You would never know he was an athlete; he’s just not the same.”

And a second church member also said Pistorius was a 'shadow' of what he once was.

“I don’t know if I’ve even seen him crack a smile," they're quoted as saying.

"He’s just a shadow of what he once was.”

While Pistorius is free, however, Reeva's mother continues to mourn the loss of her daughter.

June Steenkamp also sadly lost her husband, Barry, in September last year.

Pistorius met with him during his time behind bars, with Barry previously saying the killer 'wailed like a child' during their chat.

He did, however, continue to insist he didn't mean to kill Reeva.

June, meanwhile, released an emotional statement after Pistorius' release earlier in the year.

“February 2013 (was) the day life changed forever," she said.

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"The day South Africa lost its hero, Oscar Pistorius, and the day Barry and I lost our precious daughter, Reeva, at Oscar’s hands.

“Now, almost 11 years later, the pain is still raw and real, and my dear late husband Barry and I have never been able to come to terms with Reeva’s death, or the way she died.

“Through the years Barry and I were encouraged by the love and messages of support from both friends and strangers.

“I wish I could thank each one personally for carrying Barry and I through these difficult years.

"Part of Barry and my daily conversations were always flooded by the sorrow we felt for the parents and families of victims whose perpetrators were not brought to book.

“Our thoughts remained with them as they were denied any form of closure and the names of their loved ones never recognised or honoured.

“It made us feel guilty to an extent, but at the same time the trauma of re-living and re-telling our story has been a huge cross for us to bear.

“Whilst we remain grateful to the media, the intensity of the coverage of Oscar’s trial, imprisonment and parole has been a double-edged sword.

“The media interest meant the loss of our privacy and made it difficult to mourn in peace.

"Sadly, reports were often accompanied by verbal and emotional abuse by some members of the public – not only towards us, but also towards our deceased daughter.

“It is my sincere wish, and it was Barry’s too, that people will take a moment to consider the impact of their hurtful comments.

“We did not choose this. We would much rather have our loving daughter alive, and laughing, with us.”