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Pistorius Inside: Athlete's Cell Opened Up

Prison authorities in South Africa have allowed journalists to visit Oscar Pistorius' cell, as the athlete discovered the result of the appeal against his manslaughter conviction will be announced on Thursday.

Prosecutors have appealed for the Olympic and Paralympic runner's conviction to be overturned and replaced with one for murder, which could carry a 15-year sentence.

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal could alternatively order a retrial, or rule that his initial conviction was correct.

Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, in Johannesburg, said the court has been considering the prosecution's appeal for two to three weeks, as it centres on how the judge in the original trial interpreted the law.

Even though it would be "statistically unusual" for the appeal court to rule in the prosecution's favour, she reports that the judges "did seem to be leaning" towards their case in earlier hearings.

The 29-year-old was released from jail on 19 October after serving a fifth of his five-year sentence for shooting Ms Steenkamp dead in their home on Valentine's Day in 2013.

Pistorius' cell was furnished with a single mattress on a metal frame.

Prison authorities also showed Alex Crawford the adapted bath which was used by the double amputee during his time inside.

She described her tour of the prison, which is one of the most notorious in South Africa, as "pretty unprecedented" – as it is well known for gang violence and overcrowding.

Last month, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June, told Sky News that Pistorius' sentence was "too short a time for taking someone's life" .

In the interview, she said: "(Reeva) lost her life, her career, having a child, her wedding and we lost her. It's sending a bad message to the public, especially the women of South Africa, that 11 months is enough time for killing somebody."

Thursday's hearing at the appeals court will begin at 9.45am local time (7.45am UK time).