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10 months ago
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DISGRACED Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has spent the last eight and a half years living inside a cell in some of the worst jails in South Africa.
The killer spent his time behind bars in two prisons and despite being given added protection due to his fame and dangerous enemies he still lived in a tiny room with just family photos, a prayer pillow and some books.
Reuters
Reuters
Reuters
EPAHis first room was in Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria and saw the disgraced Olympian live in hell after the brutal murder of his girlfriend, over a decade ago.
The notorious maximum security prison is home to some of South Africa’s most dangerous men and is said to be ruled over by violent gangs.
Pistorius , 37, made up one of 8,000 thugs but because of his fame and disability he was placed on the hospital wing where he received extra care and a much safer nights sleep.
Nonetheless his room was far from impressive.
Pistorius lived alone with most of his room being taken up by a small single bed and set of drawers for his belongings.
Next to the drawers sat a cold, metal toilet – a far cry from one of athletics biggest ever names just a few years prior.
An equally as rough sink and unattractive white tiles sat attached to the walls with a decaying and tiny desk next to it over his bed.
Outside of this, Pistorius had next to nothing with him apart from old photos of him with his younger family stuck on the bare yellowing, chipped walls.
On top of his designated flat and undesirable pillow sat a prayer pillow with the words, “Lord, I praise you. I worship you. I thank you” across it.
After receiving his sentence and living with the guilt of gunning down his former lover, Pistorius turned to God.
Along with the pillow he had several books supposedly about Christianity as prison guards often labelled him a “bookworm”
The runner was said to be full of complaints during his time at Kgosi Mampuru II and even kicked off after demanding he was allowed special perks and new additions in his prison life.
Prison inspection officers Violet Ngobeni and Boitumelo Morake would speak to Pistorius and remember him asking for a bathtub in the ward so he could take regular baths.
Murasiet Mentoor, the regional manager of the Judicial Inspectorate also said: “He had a complaint about his bed and they replaced his bed for him.”
Alongside the bed and bath improvements Pistorius also made sure he got special food sent to him over fears someone was trying to poison him.
He reportedly snacked on almost exclusively processed foods that were packaged and deemed safe to eat.
He was later moved to a more relaxed centre at Atteridgeville facility, where he’s seen out the remaining years of his time behind bars.
Pistorius only served eight years out of his original 13-year sentence.
After serving just a year in the high-security jail, Pistorius was moved to Atteridgeville because it was seen as more accommodating for his disabilities.
It was described by his family as having a “relaxed, family atmosphere” and “the best place he could be as a prisoner”.
One of the reasons for this was because the Paralympian was likely to have been the only murderer inside the jail as it only had 1,000 prisoners and was a lower level complex.
Here Pistorius would have access to his own garden area where he would grow his own food and also be given a room with an en-suite bathroom that fitted his exact needs.
It was also at this prison that he developed his love for teaching people about religion after learning about Christianity since his sentence begun.
Pistorius became a spiritual leader at Atteridgeville and started to preach about the Christian faith.
His father Henke Pistorius declared his son a “child of God” and said he was now “making a difference to others” by spreading the word of Christianity.
The man once coined Blade Runner because of his prosthetic legs is now set to swap a prison cell for an armed fortress after police warned him he will for ever be a target.
He is now in the hands of his uncle Arnold, who is looking after him at his £2million, three-storey mansion in Pretoria’s exclusive Waterkloof suburb.
Tycoon Arnold, made millions from property and tourism, and has given Pistorius armed guards and attack dogs to keep him safe.
There will also be a razor wire and electric fence around the 12- bedroom converted church where the killer will live in a five-star cottage on the grounds.
Complete with panic alarms, a front gatehouse and extra armed security protecting the back of his new crib.
During his murder trial in 2014, two notorious underworld figures were in attendance – prompting panic over his safety when he was released.
One was Marc Batchelor, a former pro footballer who intimidated him from the public gallery and the other shady figure was self-confessed contract killer and notorious underworld face Mikey Schultz.
Since Pistorius jail stretch Batchelor was shot dead in a gang hit and Schultz put behind bars.
Bill Schroder, Pistorius’ former headmaster at Pretoria Boys High School, has made regular visits to Atteridgeville to speak with the ex-runner.
Schroder exclusively told The Sun that Pistorius is scared of being released.
He said: “He spoke about his fears about how he will be treated by the public when he is out, as he knows he has those who support him but he knows there are many others who don’t.
“He fears for his safety and being attacked if he just takes a walk down to the shops or a bar.
“Oscar worries about simple things like the reaction if he walks into a restaurant. Will he be ignored or acknowledged? Will he be abused or even attacked?
Reuters
Reuters
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