Oscar Pistorius ‘quietly confident’ of EARLY RELEASE as new family photo emerges

CONVICTED murderer Oscar Pistorius is “quietly confident” of winning his final legal battle

- which would see the former Paralympian serve the minimum jail term for murder, according to a friend

Prosecutors are set to make a final bid to extend the six-year sentence handed to Pistorius last year after he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeve Steenkamp at their Pretoria home in 2013.

However, a friend has revealed to The Sun that Pistorius and his family believe next month’s appeal “will be the end of the road” for prosecutors.

The news comes after a family photograph emerged showing ‘The Blade Runner’ looking markedly different to the man the world watched win gold at London 2012.

Sporting a full beard, glasses and looking much slimmer, Pistorius is seen sat with his four cousins and their families as well as his aunt Lois and uncle Arnold, who raised him after the death of his mother.

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The shamed athlete is pictured with his cousins, their families as well as his aunt and uncle

The image, shared on social media, has been met with numerous positive comments from Pistorius’ supporters, as well as some critical retorts.

One Facebook user posted a picture of Ms Steenkamp next to the family portrait as a reminder of the reasons behind Pistorius’ jail term.

The shamed athlete, whose legs were amputated when he was just 11-months-old, is currently serving his sentence in Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria, a newly-refurbished facility which is renowned for its relaxed environment.

Despite his murder conviction, Pistorius is only required to grow vegetables and work in the orchards as part of his rehabilitation programme.

After being transferred from the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II jail his defence lawyer, Llewellyn Curlews, said he used to “live in daily fear, refusing to eat prison food because of the bounty” on his head, but this new prison has given him a “very different” quality of life.

He added: “It is definitely one of the better prisons, a flagship facility if you like, because it is a much smaller set up than the one Pistorius has come from.

“For Pistorius it is the idea situation. He will be able to access much more consistent care for his mental health.

“There is less pressure on the system and the staff because all the prisoners are considered to be low risk and easier to manage.”