Oscar Pistorious to serve 5 years house arrest after murdering his girlfriend!

After serving 10 months, paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius is expected to be released from prison and will be transferred to house arrest.

His release falls in line with South Africa’s sentencing guidelines which stipulate that non-dangerous prisoners spend one-sixth of a custodial sentence in prison. He will serve the rest of his sentence in “custodial prison” under house arrest.

It’s believed that Pistorius, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ will serve his term in his uncle’s home, a suburbian manor in Waterkloof that contains more than a dozen bedrooms, a private gym, outdoorswimming pool and landscaped gardens. He will also be allowed to leave the house to work, carry out community service or attend important family events.

In a country with one of the world’s highest rates of violent crime and where many still live in poverty, there is limited sympathy for Pistorius. “It’s more like mansion arrest,” said Christopher, 31, a security guard who lives in a basic two room flat in Johannesburg.

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp did not respond to requests for comment. They said at the time of Pistorius’ sentencing that spending 10 months in prison “for taking a life is simply not enough” and it would send out the wrong message to society.

Experts who have worked closely with former prisoners have countered saying that the public often unaware of how tough life can be. “Many people don’t understand the very serious impact prison can have on your life and the challenges afterwards, no matter where you live,” said Jacques Sibomana, spokesman for NICRO, an organisation helping to re-integrate offenders.

“The social stigma Oscar will face could be very psychologically traumatic. The punishment lives with you.”

Pistorius’ time in Waterkloof could be short-lived if state prosecutors succeed in overturning the verdict. Details of their case were due to be submitted to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Pistorius is serving a five year sentence for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He admitted to killing Steenkamp by firing four shots into the locked door of a toilet cubicle in what he said was the mistaken belief that an intruder was hiding behind it.