The family of the model shot dead by Oscar Pistorius say that his release from prison after serving a year for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp 'makes no difference' to them.

A lawyer for Miss Steenkamps's parents Barry and June, who condemned the sentence from the outset, said the athlete's early release 'doesn't change how they feel' because Reeva is still dead.

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.

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Freed: Jailed sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison under the cover of darkness after serving just a year for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

The double amputee was driven to his uncle's villa, where he has a private cottage in the large grounds

Joy: Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, addresses the media outside the house, confirming that 'Oscar is here and home with his family'

The Paralympian star's lawyers successfully argued that he should be released under house arrest after serving a year of his five-year jail sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (pictured) in 2013

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

Tanya Koen, lawyer for Miss Steenkamp's parents, told MailOnline: 'They are fine. Reeva is still dead and this doesn't change how they feel.'

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

She said: 'The family is happy that Oscar is home, but want to emphasise the fact that Oscar continues to serve his sentence.'

Earlier, a van delivered a handful of security guards at dawn to be stationed at the gate of the three-storey villa, which was flanked by satellite trucks, photographers and reporters who had started to gather hours before sunrise.

The athlete was whisked away last night from Kgosi Mampuru II jail where a small team of prison managers decided to free Pistorius without consulting their national bosses, who were only informed after the event.

It is thought his early release may have been to prevent the media from trying to catch a glimpse of the gold medalist as he was driven away from prison.

Even the sprinter's family and lawyers were not informed of the subterfuge until shortly before Pistorius changed out of his prison garb and back into his own clothes, believed to be the black suit and white shirt he was sentenced in.

After being introduced to his new parole officer, completing formalities and agreeing to the terms of his release, the double amputee was driven to his uncle's palatial villa, where he has a private cottage in the large grounds.

Luxurious: The Paralympian was freed under house arrest a day earlier than planned and is now expected to spend the remainder of his five-year sentence at his uncle's palatial home in Pretoria (above)

A car driven by the athlete's sister Aimee Pistorius is seen leaving the house where she also lives

A statement from the Pistorius family, read outside the house, said: 'Oscar was released into correctional supervision last night.

'Like you, we had expected him to just to be released today but we were informed that the details of any release are decided upon by the facility concerned and that is why Oscar was released a couple of hours earlier.

'It is very important for the family to emphasise that Oscar's sentence has not been shortened or reduced.

'He is simply entering the next phase of his sentence now. He will serve this under the strict conditions that govern correctional supervision.

'The family will support Oscar as he serves out the remainder of the five-year sentence handed down by the trial judge.

'And he will strictly adhere to the conditions set by the parole board and community corrections.'

At one point, flowers arrived at the house sent by the church attended by the Pistorius family, triggering chaos and sending the delivery driver running for cover.

Estelle van der Vyver, secretary for the church, said she did not know if Pistorius's parole conditions would allow him to attend a Sunday service but that the reverend Dr André van Niekerk would be visiting him at home.

'We do support him with all the love we can give him,' she said. 'I can't speak for all our parishioners but in this office we are supporting him.'

An unidentified woman arrives at Oscar Pistorius's uncle's house in Waterkloof, Pretoria

An unidentified woman arrives at the house. 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

At dawn, a van delivered security guards to be stationed at the gate of the three-storey villa, which is now flanked by satellite trucks, photographers and reporters who had started to gather hours before sunrise

Miss Steenkamp's cousin, Kim Martin, who gave evidence during the athlete's sentencing last year, said it was 'not a fair' punishment.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: 'I can't imagine they (Miss Steenkamp's parents) are taking it very well.

'You try to forget it and carry on with your life and concentrate on Reeva's memory and try not to focus any energy on Oscar getting out of jail.

'We have to be content with what happened to be able to carry for your own personal sanity.'

You try to carry on with your life and concentrate on Reeva's memory and try not to focus any energy on Oscar getting out of jail Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin

Manelisi Wolela, a spokesman for South Africa's correctional services department, confirmed that Pistorius was released at 8pm – normally the time when he would have been locked up for the night.

The news was released in a text message to the Associated Press news agency, more than three hours after the unusually timed exit, allowing the runner to complete the 'processing' of his release out of hours and under the cover of darkness.

A jail source told MailOnline: 'It is our perogative to organise that.

'We concluded that avoiding a media scrum would best serve the interests of the offender, his lawyers, family, as well as the family of the victim.

'It was a decision made out of consideration for public safety.'

South Africa's prisons department later defended the decision to free Pistorius after deliberately misleading the public and insisted that even offenders were entitled to their privacy.

Department spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said in a statement: 'Such supervision must not invade the privacy of the person concerned more than is necessary to ensure compliance with the conditions of the community corrections imposed.'

Covert: Pistorius was released a day earlier than planned and under the cover of darkness. He is now expected to spend the remainder of his sentence at his uncle's home in Pretoria (pictured on Monday night)

It is thought his early release may have been to prevent the media from trying to catch a glimpse of the gold medalist as he was driven away from prison. TV crews were seen outside his uncle's house on Monday night

The department would not publicly disclose any specific details about any offender, he said, refusing to be drawn on details of the conditions of Pistorius's parole.

'As DCS has provided sufficient information on Pistorius, henceforth, no additional information on the said offender will be publicly disclosed,' he said.

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

She is also expected to include him undertaking a period of community service.

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.

It is understood he will be allowed to work and will not be electronically tagged.

His lawyers say track and field training is part of his profession, meaning there is the possibility he will be allowed out to exercise.

Pistorius is said to have lost a dramatic amount of weight behind bars.

Scene of horror: This photograph shows the blood-soaked bathroom where Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the toilet cubicle (top) with his 9mm pistol (seen lying on a bathmat, right)

His brother Carl, an excitable Twitter user prone to using quotes from the Bible and life-affirming messages to reflect his mood, today shared a quote from the little-known entrepreneur E Joseph Cossman, to convey the family's shared relief.

'The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep,' he tweeted.

His sister Aimee also lives on the property, which is in the upmarket suburb of Waterkloof.

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 night, the spokeswoman for Barry and June Steenkamp (pictured in court) said the couple had not been notified about the secret timing of Pistorius' exit from jail and were informed by the media

Prosecutors insist that he deliberately killed her after an argument.

He faces a further test on November 3 when prosecutors appeal to South Africa's Supreme Court for a murder conviction and a tougher sentence.

A spokesman from the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre said Pistorius was released on Monday evening, a day earlier than had been expected.

Correctional services department spokesman Manelisi Wolela said in a statement: 'Oscar Pistorius was placed under correctional supervision tonight.

'The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative that is carried out in the best interest of all parties concerned.'

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

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.