Oscar Pistorius was a 'shadow of himself' after being released from prison but is now doing 'much better', it has been claimed.
The South African shot and killed model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013. After initially being charged with manslaughter, he was then charged with murder.
Last year, Pistorious was released from prison on parole.
His new life is shrouded in secrecy, with the former Paralympian living his life away from the spotlight.
Oscar Pistorius was a 'shadow of himself' after being released from prison but is now doing 'much better', it has been claimed
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Pistorius now lives on his uncle's farm in South Africa. He has done volunteering at a local church and reports have even suggested that he's got a new girlfriend, despite his past.
Mark Williams-Thomas, a detective-turned-broadcaster, previously interviewed the ex-athlete during his time behind bars.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he says Pistorius initially struggled after being released from prison.
However, with the 38-year-old now taking up running again, he's said to be doing 'much better now'.
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“He’s working hard physically at the moment – running, in the gym and trying to get his body back into shape,” he told The Telegraph.
“Exercise has always been so important to Oscar. He knows how important it is to keep fit and stay healthy. When he came out [of prison], he was a shadow of himself.
"In the first early days, I would speak to him and he was just profoundly exhausted, mentally and physically.
"He is much better now.”
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Pistorius has always maintained that Reeva's death was a tragic accident.
He has insisted that he mistook her for an intruder in the middle of the night, where he fired four times through a locked door.
Williams-Thomas insists Pistorius has 'taken responsibility' for his actions, even if Reeva's family have always claimed he hasn't.
The detective-turned-broadcaster also believes society has a duty to 'allow him to move on and try and life his second life'.
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Oscar Pistorius shot and killed model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp back in 2013
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“He will forever live with what happened to him, and he’s never shied away from that,” he continued.
“He’s always accepted the responsibility for what he did. He took someone’s life, and he’ll live with that for the whole of his life.
"He remains at his uncle’s house and he’s trying to work and provide for society.
“I have got to know Oscar and his family and friends and he is kind and genuine.
Oscarr Pistorius lives his life away from the spotlight, having been released from prison on parole in January last year
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"He is not this dangerous, arrogant man as painted by so many and I think we, as a society, have a duty to allow him to move on and try and live his second life as it were.”
He added: “It was a mad time [when interviewing Pistorius during his time in prison]. We did it all covertly.
"I spent a lot of time with him and spent hours and hours sitting talking to him.
"He was really worried about the film going out and how it would come across, and how he would be portrayed. We just said, ‘Look, just be yourself’.”
