Oscar Pistorius to make last ditch bid for freedom following murder conviction that could see him rot in hellhole jail if he fails
CONVICTED killer Oscar Pistorius is set to make last ditch bid for freedom that could see him banged up in a hellhole jail if he fails.
The murderer’s wealthy family are using a jail visit to mark the Blade Runner's birthday to discuss using an obscure law to overturn his conviction.
The bold plan was prompted by the family's fear the shamed track star’s six-year sentence for shooting Reeva Steenkamp could well be doubled.
South Africa’s most senior judges are expected to rule in the coming weeks on an appeal by prosecutors to increase the Paralympian's “shockingly lenient” punishment.
Many legal experts predict Pistorius could face another decade or more behind bars.
If that happens, Pistorius would be forced to abandon the “more relaxed” Atteridgeville Correctional facility he is currently being held in a few miles from his family’s mansion.
There, Pistorius works in the vegetable gardens and orchards and has his own en-suite bathroom.
But the facility only takes inmates serving a maximum of six years, which would force Pistorius to return to maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II jail.
He already spent a year in the prison after his initial conviction for culpable manslaughter and was said to have lived in fear for his life there.
Gang members rule the roost there, reportedly threatening others with rape or trying to extort them for protection money.
South African prison gangs even use HIV infection as punishment, infecting those who are disobedient.
The cramped quarters have little luxury with the bare minimum given to the hardened criminals imprisoned there.
To avoid a return to the hellish jail, the double amputee’s father Henke will apply to become amicus curiae – Latin for “friend of the court”.
This will allow him to raise questions to undermine ballistics evidence that was heard during his son’s trial.
The businessman is convinced the state misled the court over the grouping, trajectory and make of the four bullets Pistorius blasted through a locked toilet door, which killed his 29-year-old girlfriend.
A family source told Sun Online: “Henke believes that the state did not present accurate information to the court and this was not challenged by Barry Roux, Oscar’s lawyer.
“He thinks the information he has spent months researching is vital and proves that Oscar had no intention of killing the person behind the door.
“He is convinced he has enough to convince appeal court judges that there has been a miscarriage of justice in the case and his research clears Oscar of murder.”
But senior barrister Dr Llewelyn Curlewis doubts such a bid would be successful.
She added: “I would be very surprised if the Supreme Court of Appeal judges agree to leave Oscar's six-year sentence as it is.
“It is significantly lower than the tariff and will be used again and again when defence teams are arguing for lenient sentences for their clients.”
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