Oscar Pistorius and his family are confident that he will win his final appeal to serve the minimum jail term for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a friend has claimed.
The South African Paralympic gold medallist, who is serving a six year sentence for murdering model Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013, is said to have a 'positive outlook' about next month's appeal hearing, a source told
The Sun.
State prosecutors are challenging Pistorius' latest six year sentence, arguing it was too lenient as it was less than half the 15-years they sought.
Pistorius' family have stood by him throughout his controversial and lengthy legal battle and in August his uncle Arnold shared a photo showing a side to the 30-year-old sport star that is not often seen.
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Pistorius will be one of the longest serving inmates to be held at Atteridgeville and one of only a handful of prisoners to be convicted of murder.
The jail takes only 'low risk, non-violent' offenders serving sentences of zero to six years.
Although the former track star was convicted of repeatedly shooting defenceless Steenkamp, then 29, through a locked door, he is considered by prison management to be 'low risk'.
The athlete, known as the Blade Runner for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, was treated for wrist injuries in August 2016 but prison services said he denied trying to kill himself.
Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison in July after being found guilty of murdering Steenkamp on appeal in December 2015.
The track star originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal.
Pistorius says he shot dead Steenkamp by accident after mistaking her for an intruder in his house.