French rock star Bertrand Cantat has been released from jail, having served half an eight-year sentence for beating his actress girlfriend to death.
Cantat, the 43-year-old lead singer of French band Noir Desir, left the Muret prison near Toulouse in a car driven by Denis Barthe, his group's drummer.
Toulouse prosecutor Paul Michel denied he had received any special treatment.
Cantat was jailed for the manslaughter of Marie Trintignant after a violent row in a Lithuanian hotel in July 2003.
Trintignant, the daughter of French movie star Jean-Louis, died from swelling to the brain five days after the incident in Vilnius.
Probation terms
The victim's mother, Nadine Trintignant, had opposed Cantat's early release, saying it was a setback for those fighting to end violence against women.
The singer's probation terms state he must report regularly to see a judge and undergo psychological treatment for a year.
He is also banned from speaking publicly about the case and must not publish any songs or audiovisual works touching on his crime.
The measures will be in force until July 2010.
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