Blow: Oscar Pistorius is comforted by
his lawyer Barry Roux during his sentencing for the manslaughter of
Reeva Steenkamp. His hopes of early release from a five-year jail
sentence have been dashed after prison officials said their electronic
tagging scheme cannot be properly monitored if it is fixed to his
prosthetic leg
Oscar Pistorius may not get early release from his gang-ridden jail where he is fed rations of buttered bread because the electronic tagging device cannot be fitted securely to his prosthetic leg, it emerged today.
The
revelation came as South African prosecutors said their request to
appeal the athlete's manslaughter conviction and five-year prison
sentence would be heard on December 9.
The runner had hoped he would qualify for home detention curfew with a tag after serving just ten months of his sentence.
But
MailOnline can reveal that prison bosses have told him he can't take
part in their tagging scheme because the device cannot be properly
monitored if it is fixed to a prosthetic leg.
The tags cannot by law be fixed to an offender's wrists as they are too easily removed.
Cannot be used on false limbs: The
Paralympian is pictured in 2008 taking off his prosthetic running shoes
and putting on his special blades which he uses to compete in. Prison
officials said the electronic tag which monitor parolees cannot by law
be fixed to an offender's wrists as they are too easily removed
Pistorius, 27, had both legs amputated as a child and relies on prosthetic legs for his mobility.
South Africa's Correctional Services Department started a pilot scheme for tagging offenders in April.
Pistorius told his defence team he believed he was a suitable case with no previous convictions for violence.
But prison sources said yesterday: 'The device has to be attached physically to the offender's ankle.
'We cannot use it on false limbs which could be left somewhere static while the offender goes missing.'
Pistorius
had hoped to leave his cell in the hospital wing of Pretoria's Kgosi
Mampuru prison to spend the remainder of his sentence at his uncle's
luxury home in the city's Waterkloof suburb where there is a gym and
swimming pool.
Stark: Prisoners are lined up inside
the Kgosi Mumpuru 11 Management Centre during a surprise raid by prison
officials checking for drugs and other contraband. Pistorius is being
held in the hospital wing of jail
Grim: Prison officials search an
inmate's cell. Pistorius is said to be quiet and calm in prison after an
initial meltdown during his first few days when other inmates heard him
sobbing himself to sleep (file picture)
He
was living with his wealthy uncle Arnold and family members throughout
his seven-month trial for the killing of blonde model Reeva Steenkamp on
Valentine's Day last year.
He fired four shots at her through the door of a locked toilet cubicle in the early hours of the morning.
In
a sensational case which shocked TV viewers worldwide as it was filmed
live in the West Gauteng High Court, Pistorius wept and howled his way
through evidence during six days in the witness box, denying that he
intentionally killed 29-year-old Miss Steenkamp.
He
was acquitted of premeditated murder and of the South African judicial
category 'dolus eventualis' – meaning he foresaw the result of his
actions – but was convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to five
years.
Last
month, the National Prosecuting Authority announced it would apply for
leave to appeal against his conviction and sentence, claiming that he
should have been found guilty of 'dolus eventualis' and received a
heavier sentence.
Meanwhile,
Pistorius is being kept in isolation – in the same prison cell where
South Africa's disgraced former Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi was
locked up for 229 days at the start of his 15-year sentence for fraud
and corruption in August 2010.
He
had taken bribes from convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti who was
given immunity from prosecution to give evidence against him.
Victim and killer: Model Reeva
Steenkamp died after Pistorius fired four shots at her through a locked
toilet door at his home on Valentine's Day last year
The
case against respected anti-apartheid struggle hero Selebi rocked South
Africa. He had been President of Interpol at the time of his arrest.
During
his incarceration, he suffered a collapse from a kidney disease and was
discharged on medical parole to serve the remainder of his sentence at
home.
Selebi
had been placed in the isolation cell for his own protection against
maximum security prisoners who are notoriously led by the murderous
Numbers gangs.
Now Pistorius is in Selebi's former cell due to similar worries over his safety and security.
But he enjoys few luxuries despite the extra protection. He has no TV in his cell and is not allowed a mobile phone.
His day starts at 5.30am when he washes, dresses and tidies up his cell.
He has two sets of bright orange prison overalls and has been allowed to keep his own white T-shirts and tracksuits.
Breakfast of porridge with coffee or juice is brought to him at 7am.
Pistorius
is said to be quiet and calm in prison after an initial meltdown during
his first few days when other inmates heard him sobbing himself to
sleep.
Prison
sources say that his current mood seems to be one of relief. He has
been told that, even without release on a tagging system, he may be able
to apply for parole after 10 months.
His
cell is two metres by three metres in size with a grill and a solid
steel door. He has a small cupboard, a bed with a sponge mattress and
two blankets, a wash-basin and toilet.
He
shares a shower room with the prisoner in the adjoining cell and
maintenance men are currently busy installing a bath for them.
Fearing the worst: Pistorius was
clearly aware of the dangers of prison life as he stood for sentencing
at the end of his trial. When police led him down the stairs to the
holding cells, he discreetly slipped his expensive designer watch into
his uncle Arnold's hand (above) as they reached out to each other for a
few seconds
Pistorius
is spending long periods reading the Gideon Bible given to him on
admission and will be able to borrow other books from the prison library
once he has ventured out.
His cell opens onto a small bare courtyard and he is able to speak to the prisoner in the neighbouring cell.
He
is said to be eating the same food as other inmates, but will be
allowed to also buy pies, hot dogs, sweets and chocolates from the
prison tuck shop using money given to him by family visitors.
At midday, he is brought a basic meal which includes meat of some kind with carbohydrates and vegetables.
The
last meal of the day is slices of buttered bread with a hot drink,
served at 4pm. All the prison food is prepared in one huge kitchen
catering for 7,000 inmates.
Pistorius
is expected to take part in rehabilitation programmes, which could mean
him giving exercise classes to other prisoners.
But so far he is reluctant to intermingle for reasons easy to understand.
Take him away: Members of the South
African Police Service escort Oscar Pistorius in the back of an armoured
police vehicle as he is transported from the High Court in Pretoria to
prison
The
hospital wing contains nine other inmates, among them suspected mafia
hitman Radovan Krejcir, a fugitive from the former Czechoslovakia.
Pistorius was briefly introduced to them when he arrived.
He
is currently undergoing a 21-day risks and needs assessment and will
later be obliged to join rehab or skills-training courses in the prison
workshops.
Pistorius is a Group A prisoner, a category extended to convicted police officers, soldiers, elderly prisoners and the sick.
He
is not considered to be a danger to others, and the category provides
him certain privileges such as the right to weekly visits of one hour's
duration from friends or family members. They can also bring him food
parcels.
Correctional
Services Department spokesperson Sibongile Khumalo admitted that his
category means 'he has some form of preferential treatment for his own
safety'.
Pistorius was clearly aware of the dangers of prison life as he stood for sentencing at the end of his trial.
When
police led him down the stairs to the holding cells, he discreetly
slipped his expensive designer watch into his uncle Arnold's hand as
they reached out to each other for a few seconds.
The
National Prosecuting Authority had described Pistorius sentence for
killing Reeva Steenkamp as 'shockingly light' when it announced its
intention to appeal the manslaughter verdict.
His legal team has opposed the move, setting the stage for a hearing before the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in a month.
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