Oscar Pistorius wants to work with disadvantaged children when he is released from prison

 

South African athlete is due for parole in August and wants to get his life back on track, according to his legal team

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Set for parole: Oscar Pistorius is due out of prison in August

Jailed Oscar Pistorius is lining up a job working with children when he is freed from prison in just three months, the Sunday People can reveal.
The South African athlete - jailed last year for shooting dead lover Reeva Steenkamp - will be released on strict parole conditions in August.
His legal team claim the 28-year-old is so desperate to get his life back on track he wants to work with disadvantaged youngsters.

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Victim: Reeva Steenkamp

A source said: “He is managing in jail, he’s isolated but hanging in and praying to keep up his strength.
“He is keen to become involved in assisting children in whatever opportunity comes up. His legal team are trying to help with this and sort a job.”
Pistorius has been held in a single cell at the notorious Kgosi Mumpuru prison, in Pretoria, over fears he will face attacks from violent inmates.
After a six-month trial last year the Paralympian - known as the Blade Runner - was found not guilty of murder but guilty of culpable homicide.

He was handed a five-year jail term but will serve just a sixth of that under South African laws.
His solicitor, Barry Roux, who represented him throughout his legal fight, said: “[Oscar] walks free in August and then has ten months on parole.
“The parole conditions will be at their discretion, don’t drink, go to church, no drugs, he’ll have a psychological programme, an anger management course.
“They will set the parameters and he will keep to them.” He added: “He will leave prison in three months time and wherever he goes he will be Oscar Pistorius.

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Notorious: Pretoria Central Prison

“There is no way a man as famous as him can change his name.
“Anyway, How can you change your name, it’s running away. Why would you want to change your name, it’s disowning what happened. He will have to lift his head, and take it on the chin."
Earlier this year images emerged of Pistorius playing football with Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir in a concrete courtyard.
The two-minute clip, which shows Pistorius practising penalty shoot-outs with the notorious underworld figure on trial for kidnapping, sparked condemnation from South African prison authorities.

But Mr Roux defended the footage, claiming it was a misrepresentation of how Pistorius was being treated in prison.

He said: Mr Roux said: “Oscar is in a single cell, we had to make the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.
“Do you put him in a cell with inmates, with all the horrible associated risks of attacks and tormenting, or in a single cell with the loneliness and isolation?
“At least this way he is protected. His cell is three metres by two metres. Life is lonely.
“He spends 18 hours-a-day in isolation seven days a week. He has one hour a day for physical exercise.
“People completely misunderstood when they saw a photo of him playing soccer with the notorious Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir.
“The man is also in the hospital section and he had his hour of exercise at the same time one day, so they kicked a ball around for a few minutes.
“That’s all it was, its not like Oscar has a life of leisure and football.”

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Penniless: Oscar Pistorius

Mr Roux also revealed Pistorius had rejected a string of Hollywood film offers and book deals - despite being broke.
He said: “All Oscar has to his name is the shirt on his back and his underpants.
“Oscar has spent all his money. I was not paid for the last two months, but I just could not ‘walk away’, I couldn’t morally do that.
“Oscar was left with nothing, he is totally and utterly penniless, I mean zero. The shirt on his back and his underpants. That’s all he has.
“The case has cost him at least two million Rand. He sold his brand new Audi, all his art, his watches, even his guns I believe.
“He has never discussed the book or movie offers but they have poured in. He has in fact declined the book offers and Hollywood options every time, and he has been right to decline.”