Despite Oscar Pistorius' release from prison in less than a week, his family is not yet ready to celebrate.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Pistorius' release to house arrest next Friday after serving 10 months of a five-year prison sentence in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is being received with almost no fanfare from his family.
For one thing, the family fears that Pistorius' prosecutors, who have been granted an appeal of his culpable homicide conviction after shooting Steenkamp four times through a bathroom door in his Pretoria, South Africa home, could get a murder conviction, which carries a minimum, 15-year sentence.
"Even though he will be back with us by next weekend, another massive hurdle awaits him - it is hanging over all of us," a family source told MailOnline. "It is hard to see an end to this any time soon. It is a huge source of anxiety for everyone in the family."
Oscar Pistorius crime scene photographer says he's been scarred from having shot gruesome pictures
According to the Daily Mail, legal experts give the state "a fair chance" of overturning the double-amputee sprinter's conviction and getting a murder conviction, although one South African criminal lawyer, Jaco du Plessis, disagrees.
"However, in my opinion, this appeal is purely academic," du Plessis told News24.com. "I think the state is wasting its time and the appeal is sour grapes."
The other reason for the muting of the celebration over Pistorius' release is out of respect to the tragedy. His grandmother, Gertie Pistorius, 91, told MailOnline, "there will be no parties" to welcome him back to the fold.
"What is there to celebrate?' she told the news organization.
Pistorius will be released to the home of his uncle Arnold and he cannot drink or take drugs. He will have to serve a minimum of two days per month of community service, and will have to wear an electronic tracking device. Discussion is ongoing as to where the device will be placed because Pistorius has no legs.
Do you think Oscar Pistorius will go back to jail? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
