Oscar Pistorius is about to be released from prison: "There is a strong fear that he will be murdered" - Voila! sport

Oscar Pistorius in court (Reuters)

Oscar Pistorius will receive 24-hour police protection if he is released on parole next month, after receiving information from the South African police that he was facing threats to his life, on the 10th anniversary of the murder of Riva Steenkamp.

The 36-year-old Pistorius may be released in the coming weeks after serving half of his sentence - 13 years in prison - for the murder of Steenkamp, ​​who was his partner at the time.

Recently, the police in Johannesburg received information that he would become a target for gangsters, who want to avenge the murder of the young woman.

will be under police guard 24 hours a day.

Pistorius (Photo: Reuters)

The sportsman, who possessed many weapons, including an AK-47, was already "in the crosshairs" of the Johannesburg underworld, after threatening one of the local criminals.

Pistorius, the amputee, known by his nickname "Blade Runner" after his prosthetic legs with which he runs, had already fired his gun from the roof of his car and even fired a gun in a restaurant a few weeks before killing his 29-year-old Riva.

During his trial one of the thugs of a local crime syndicate, Mark Batchelor, was a prosecution witness when he told of his contempt for the athlete.

Batchelor was threatened by Pistorius, who told him he would "break his legs" for fighting over a woman.

Batchelor was also Riva's friend, and called for a life sentence for the athlete.

That bachelor is known to have friends from the underworld, including one who killed a businessman and others who worked as hired killers.

But Batchelor was shot dead by two masked gunmen in his car in Johannesburg three years ago in what police believe was a targeted assassination.

No arrests were made and the murder was not linked to Pistorius.

However, the police detectives realize that Pistorius' name is being circulated in the underworld of the city and the hired killers.

The officers will now contact his family and look for the best way to keep him safe from harm once he is freed and offer their support.

A police source: "Pistorius killed a young woman and that in itself is a significant sin in the Johannesburg underworld. He also threatened Batchelor, who still has many friends in town, and who have a huge dislike for Oscar Pistorius.

"Oscar is a murderer, but after serving his sentence, he should be able to rebuild his life and live safely. The police obviously have no sympathy for murderers, but he deserves full protection from any harm."

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"Only Oscar knows the truth."

Steenkamp (Photo: GettyImages)

The photos of the body of Riva Steenkamp, ​​the partner of Oscar Pistorius (Photo: GettyImages)

The killer may be released next month as he is eligible for parole under South African law after serving half his sentence.

In the prison where he is serving his sentence, they claimed that he is an "exemplary prisoner".

In order to be eligible for release, the prisoners must "recognize and take responsibility for their actions."

As part of the process, Riva's father, Barry Steenkamp, ​​80, agreed to speak face-to-face with Pistorius because he wanted to challenge him and ask why he shot his model daughter.

But the grieving father said he left the meeting early after Pistorius failed to "tell the truth".

According to him, "When I went to VOD (Victim-Offender Dialogue) and met Oscar I asked him certain questions. All Johnny and I wanted to know was the truth - what we feel is that he actually killed her out of anger. I didn't get the answers I wanted. So It didn't take me long, it could have taken all day but it was cut short because I stated that we weren't getting the answers we wanted.

Joni, Riva's mother, said she chose not to join the meeting for fear of what "she might do" and instead wrote him a letter.

Ruined their lives.

The parents of the murdered woman (Photo: GettyImages)

The 76-year-old mother said: "The meeting was very stressful for Barry. I wrote him a letter because I was actually afraid of what I would do if I went there. Barry was there to read what I wrote to him - that he had taken the most precious thing we got from God and all the things he He took from me - a grandson, Riva's wedding."

Pistorius was initially found guilty of manslaughter.

He claimed at his trial that it was a tragic accident because he thought it was a burglar.

But the prosecution appealed and a murder conviction was obtained.

After Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison for the murder, prosecutors again appealed what they called an "appallingly light sentence," and the Supreme Court of Appeal doubled his sentence in 2017.

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