'Oscar Pistorius faces death if he goes to jail': Prison gang leader says

Pistorius talks to his lawyer Barry Roux on day four of his sentencing hearing at the High Court in Pretoria

 Defence lawyer Barry Roux quoted the claims from a newspaper article to argue that the athlete's life would be at risk if he was jailed for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Mr Roux said Subjee, 47, the head of the feared 26s gang who claims to control all of South Africa's inland jail, spoke to the paper from a prison phone box.

Subjee said: 'If he thinks he is going to come here and buy his way to get computers and cellphones and a lavish lifestyle, he must know that will never happen for as long as I am around.'

Subjee, who has been in and out of prison for the past 33 years, admitted he had organised similar retribution on other prisoners who had received special care, including the killer of Chris Hani - a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle.

The revelations came after Miss Steenkamp's cousin made a dramatic appeal for Pistorius to be sent to prison, telling the court that he 'needs to pay for what he's done' to her family and his own.

Steely glare: Oscar Pistorius walks past former South African footballer Mark Batchelor, who claimed the athlete once threatened to break his legs after believing he had slept with his then girlfriend Samantha Taylor

Thokozile Masipa to 'send a message to society' by jailing the athlete.

Pistorius faces up to 15 years behind bars for manslaughter - but could also walk free - after shooting the model four times through a toilet door.Fighting back tears, Mrs Martins said: 'I just feel to take someone's life – to shoot someone behind a door who is unarmed, who is harmless – needs sufficient punishment.

'He needs to pay for what he's done, whats he's done to my family, but also to his family. Everyone is suffering here.

'We need to send a message to society – that you can't do that and get away with it.'

The mother-of-two is the only member of the dead model's family who has addressed the court in the 47 days since the Paralympian's murder trial began.

Pistorius stared down, becoming increasingly red-faced, as Mrs Martins told how she felt 'fearful' of him. 

Support: Pistorius's uncle Arnold (left) and aunt Lois (centre), whose house the athlete has been staying at while on bail, arrive at court for a hearing that will determine their nephew's sentence for manslaughter

'I was very worried when I was under the belief that prison conditions would be bad for him, but I discovered that his rehabilitation process in prison would actually be humane and in keeping with the dignity of a human being.' 

Mrs Martin's testimony has been one of the most dramatic and moving voices heard at the court since the Paralympian's murder trial began nine months ago.

It was the first time that details of Miss Steenkamp's life outside of her relationship to Pistorius – as his girlfriend and then victim – have been told. 

Zach Modise, the acting national commissioner for correctional services, later testified for the prosecution that Pistorius would be safe in the country's prison system.

He said the Kgosi Mumpuru prison in Pretoria would be able to accommodate his needs, adding that he could be housed in the hospital wing.

He acknowledged there was overcrowding and gang activity, but said officials had made progress in tackling those problems and that some prison facilities can cater to disabled criminals, including Pistorius.

'We will be able to accommodate him,' Modise said.

However, defense lawyer Barry Roux referred to reports of an increase in alleged torture in South Africa's prison system.

Modise said he was not aware of any threat.

The defence have cited the threat of violence, rape, drugs, gangs, Aids and a lack of facilities in South Africa's over-crowded prisons, along with the sprinter's own remorse, as compelling reasons for him to be spared incarceration. 

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has warned of possible vigilante attacks on Pistorius if the Judge's sentence is seen as too lenient.

He has condemned the idea of a non-custodial sentence as 'shockingly inappropriate'.   

Oscar Pistorius walks past Reeva Steenkamp's mother June (left) father Barry (centre) before taking his seat in the dock for the fourth day of his sentencing hearing at the high court in Pretoria

The athlete's father, Henke Pistorius, arrives to support his son through the sentencing hearing in Pretoria

Mrs Martins broke down in court yesterday as she recalled the moment she first learned the model had been shot dead by Oscar Pistorius. 

In heart-wrenching testimony, Kim Martins told how she heard on the car radio that the athlete had killed his girlfriend, but desperately hoped it was someone else.

She said: 'The DJ came on and said 'breaking news, not confirmed'. He said 'Oscar Pistorius'.

'The minute he said his name, I jumped up in my seat and froze. The next words were 'has allegedly shot his girlfriend.'

'I remember saying 'I hope to God he is cheating on Reeva'.'

But when she saw Miss Steenkamp's distraught mother June, she knew it was her.

'For me it was the end of the world', she told the court, reducing many in the public gallery to tears.

'It has ruined our whole family. It was the worst worst experience I have ever been through'.

Mrs Martins also admitted she was haunted by their last ever meeting - six weeks before her death - when Reeva mysteriously shrugged and said 'we need to talk' in response to a question about whether she was happy.

They had met for a brief breakfast so the cousins could meet and Reeva could introduce her new boyfriend, who had left the table to take a phone call when Mrs Martins gently probed her.

'I never got the chance to ask her 'what do you mean by that' and that has bothered me forever since then.'

Mrs Martins was giving evidence for the prosecution in the hope of securing the toughest possible sentence for the runner, who faces up to 15 years in prison but equally could walk free.

Asked why she was testifying, Mrs Martins said: 'I must be Reeva's voice. I had to do this for Reeva, I owe it to her.'

Pistorius was last month cleared of murdering Miss Steenkamp, but convicted of her culpable homicide.

The hearing continues.

Stark conditions: Prisoners are lined up inside the Kgosi Mumpuru 11 Management Centre during a surprise raid by prison officials checking for drugs and other contraband. The jail is the most likely one that Oscar Pistorius will be sent to if he is given a prison term for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

The gangs have a history that predates the formation of the South African prisons department.

They are not spontaneous creations in each prison, with an improvised system of membership and command.