Little Christmas festivities for Oscar Pistorius

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JOHANNESBURG – Convicted Criminals like Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, can expect little festivities in his Pretoria jail cell on Christmas Day.

Pistorius is serving a five-year sentence after being found guilty of culpable homicide in September for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp four times through a bathroom door on Valentine’s Day last year.

The Department of Correctional Services says although some prisoners can expect treats such as meat and visitation, prisoner privileges are determined according to their classifications in the system.

He says today will be like any other day for prisoners.

Spokesperson Logan Maistry says, “The mandate of the department is to insure safe and secure incarceration therefore on days like Christmas in a correctional centre it is like any other normal day.”

Pistorius’ fate and the question of whether he is in fact a murderer will be decided by as many as five judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.

Judge Thokozile Masipa granted the state leave to appeal the athlete’s culpable homicide conviction earlier this month.

The matter is expected to be heard next year.

Masipa’s decision again places the double amputee in jeopardy of a murder conviction and a possible 15-year jail sentence.

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