Oscar Pistorius Special Prison Treatment? Bath Installed, New Bed Delivered For Athlete

After months of little information about Oscar Pistorius' life in prison, a report Thursday suggested the double-amputee former Olympian known as "The Blade Runner" has had a number of his complaints answered while behind bars, according to CNN. At first a surly Pistorius struggled with prison life, but an independent inspection arm of correctional services gave him requested upgrades and he adjusted.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide last year after shooting and killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Since entering prison about 10 months ago, he has reportedly received a number of changes to conditions he felt weren't suitable.

"He complained that he wanted a bath. They [correctional services] built a bath in his cell. He also had a complaint about his bed. And they replaced his bed for him," said Murasiet Mentoor, the regional manager of the Judicial Inspectorate, which reviews prisoner complaints.

Mentoor also said the South African runner complained about gym equipment, which was then replaced, and that he only eats processed food from the prison store out of fear of poisoning.

Two inspection officers, Violet Ngobeni and Boitumelo Morake, met with Pistorius multiple times and described his life in prison. At first he didn't want to speak with anyone, but he has adjusted to a more pleasant disposition they said. He is also housed in the hospital wing, with his own cell and toilet away from overcrowded portions of the prison.

"When you go there, at the hospital section, it is very secure and where he is, it is very clean. It's nice and neat," Morake said to CNN. That hospital wing was the only real option for Pistorius because of his high profile and disability, Mentoor told CNN.

Pistorius had an early release from prison blocked Wednesday after Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha ruled the decision had been premature. It had been expected that Pistorius would begin house arrest Friday at his Uncle's mansion in Pretoria, South Africa at the recommendation of the parole board after serving one-sixth of his five-year sentence. But Masutha decided that the board, which announced its decision in June, should have waited to make its determination until Pistorius was eligible for early release Aug. 21.

Pistorius' release is being reviewed and his lawyers said they accepted the decision but were considering their options. Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide last September and claimed he shot Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013 after waking up believing she was an intruder. Steenkamp's family argued the shooting was not accidental.