Will Oscar Pistorius evade prison time or will he be locked away for years?

Judge Thokozile Masipa will finally provide the long awaited answer to this question on Tuesday.

It will signal a dramatic end to a situation that has held the attention of South Africa and much of the world since the day 27-year-old Pistorius fatally shot then girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The athlete did not deny that he was responsible for the 29-year-old’s death. However, what has been a matter of debate was whether or not the victim’s death was intentional.

The prosecution argued that Oscar Pistorius shot her to death on Valentine’s Day 2013 following an early morning argument.

Instead, the former Paralympian claimed that he only fired through the bathroom door because he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius caused a 'horrific' death says prosecutor http://t.co/16LjX6P8WK

— HuffPost Canada (@HuffPostCanada) October 17, 2014

After an intense trial, Masipa ruled that Pistorius was guilty of culpable homicide. This charge meant he would likely avoid life in prison, but it did not rule out the possibility of jail time.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel is reportedly pushing for a ten year prison sentence.

Pistorius’s defense attorneys argue that the athlete’s disability would make him vulnerable in jail.

Nel countered that the use of Pistorius’s disability to avoid prison is disingenuous.

“He’s not a victim,” said Nel. “He cannot be a victim. He caused [Steenkamp’s death]. We have victims in this case.”

Oscar Pistorius must be jailed for 'minimum of 10 years', prosecution demands #PistoriusTrial http://t.co/riwwfQ34jJ pic.twitter.com/OgpObi1P7P

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) October 17, 2014

Allegedly Pistorius’s life was threatened by a notorious prison gang, a fact that defense attorney Barry Roux brought up in court.

According to Roux, the 26s gang operates out of the Kgosi Mampuru Prison where Pistorius would be sent. The group is led by a man nicknamed “The General”, who has allegedly stabbed Clive Derby-Lewis and Janusz Walus. These men were jailed for the assassination of Chris Hani.

Roux claimed that if Pistorius were placed in the same prison as this man and his gang, his life would very likely be at risk.

South African prison gang leader promises to 'take Pistorius out' http://t.co/7Ic6hBOyPF pic.twitter.com/038xh5n3K4

— The Independent (@Independent) October 16, 2014