Security threats prompted heightened security ahead of Oscar Pistorius trial, reveals Institute of Secret Studies

The Institute for Secret Studies have said that heightened security ahead of Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius' sentencing on Monday could have been because of security threats.Senior researcher Johan Burger said that the police in such cases do a threat assessment, which is not a one-off thing. He added that they either received information of threats or it is quite possible that Pistorius was not convicted of murder, but of a much lesser charge.Burger said that it is possible someone might have possibly threatened Pistorius, Sport24 reported.He also added that this may also just be speculation and said that the other reasons behind heightened security could have been because of a court assesment.The senior researcher also stated that unknown reason may have forced them to upgrade security.Earlier, Security guards on Monday wheeled out a bag scanner and a walk-through metal detector to the entrance of the court. This was the first time the devices were placed at the courtroom. The athlete arrived at court on Monday morning and was escorted by a group of bulletproof jacket wearing policemen.Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide on September 12 for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Judge Thokozile Masipa had earlier found Pistorius not guilty of murdering Steenkamp, the report added.