While Oscar Pistorius is expected to be placed under house arrest in August‚ this could be only a temporary reprieve from prison life.

Lawyer Ulrich Roux‚ who has followed the trial‚ said the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) could amend his sentence if it finds that Judge Thokozile Masipa was wrong to acquit him of murder.

“Oscar Pistorius to be placed under house arrest on August 21. If SCA overturns J[udge] Masipa's decision he could possibly be sent back to jail‚” Roux tweeted.

Pistorius‚ found guilty of culpable homicide for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013‚ began a five-year stretch in the hospital wing of the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria on October 21 last year.

According to his sentence‚ he must serve one-sixth of his jail term - that is 10 months - before he can apply to have it converted to correctional supervision.

These ten months will be over on August 21‚ which could see Pistorius celebrate his 29th birthday on November 22 out of prison.

The SCA is expected to hear the case in about three months time.

To meet the requirements for early parole‚ the Sunday Times quoted the former athlete’s brother‚ Carl Pistorius‚ as saying the Blade Runner was following prison rules‚ attending a rehabilitation programme in prison called New Beginnings and had started a basketball programme for fellow inmates.

Steenkamp’s mother June was dismayed at the proposed 10-month release date‚ telling the newspaper: “I don’t think it’s long enough for somebody who’s caused someone’s death”.