Oscar Pistorius’s brother, Carl, a constant source of support for the murder accused during his high-profile bail hearing last week, is also facing trial over the death of a woman.
Less than 48 hours after the Pistorius legal team secured bail for the Paralympic athlete at the Pretoria magistrate’s court, lawyer Kenny Oldwage released a statement in which he confirmed Carl Pistorius was also facing a charge of culpable homicide.
According to Mr Oldwage, the charge stemmed from the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident in a small town about an hour from Johannesburg in 2008.
“Following the accident, culpable homicide charges were brought against Carl Pistorius but the charges were later withdrawn by the state,” said Oldwage. However, they were later reinstated.
The older Pistorius brother appeared in a Pretoria magistrate’s court in relation to them last Thursday, the same time his famous brother’s bail hearing was under way. The matter was adjourned to the end of March, with no date specified.
Blood tests conducted after the traffic accident took place show Mr Pistorius was not under the influence of alcohol.
“There is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court,” Mr Oldwage maintained. “Carl deeply regrets the incident.”
Oscar Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14th. Known around the world as the Blade Runner for his feats on the track using carbon fibre blades to run on, he denies that he murdered her at his home in the early morning.
Instead, he says he shot her accidentally, thinking she was an intruder.
He was released on bail on Friday under strict conditions, which included the lodgement of a million rand (about €86,000) in surety. Mr Pistorius was later whisked away to his uncle’s house in the Waterkloof area of Pretoria, where it is believed he will stay until his trial takes place.
His spokeswoman, Lunice Johnston, yesterday said the sprinter was in mourning.
“Oscar and his family are relieved bail has been granted, but they are still grieving the loss of Reeva. Oscar spent time with his family last night at his uncle’s house in Pretoria.”
She told local reporters the Paralympian had not yet made direct contact with Ms Steenkamp’s family. “He respects their time to mourn. Oscar and the Pistorius family feel it’s a private and personal matter between the two families.
“On Monday, two bouquets . . . were delivered by a relative to Reeva’s family,” she added, “one from Oscar and one from the Pistorius family, with hand-written notes. His management team also sent a bouquet.”
