Oscar Pistorius appeal: South African paralympian could walk free on 21 August

Convicted killer Oscar Pistorius could be out of prison as early as 21 August after serving 10 months of his sentence for fatally shooting model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The gold medal-winning Paralympian was sentenced to five years in October for shooting dead Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria's Silver Woods Estate on 14 February 2013.

He claimed he was acting in self-defence and that Steenkamp was an intruder.

He was convicted on culpable homicide charges and taken to Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria while Judge Masipa also sentenced the athlete to an additional three years in prison, wholly suspended, for a firearms offence.

His release from the notoriously tough prison would come three months ahead of a prosecution appeal against Pistorius's murder acquittal.

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel believes the double amputee should have been found guilty of the more serious charge and will attempt to persuade the Supreme Court of Appeal in November.