Carl Pistorius: Oscar Pistorius’ brother acquitted in Marietjie Barnard’s death case

Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa.

A magistrate ruled that Carl Pistorius, 28, had not been negligent in the death of Marietjie Barnard in March 2008.

The prosecution admitted it had been unable to prove the charges and said it would take no further action.

The case had attracted attention as it came to court shortly after Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, is charged with premeditated murder for the Valentine’s Day shooting, but says he mistook 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar.

Carl Pistorius cried with relief, reported AP news agency, as the magistrate acquitted him of the charges against him, which also included reckless driving.

Instead, the magistrate ruled, Marietjie Barnard, 36, had been driving excessively fast when she crashed into the back of his vehicle.

“We are satisfied with the outcome and Carl is also happy to see the end of this case,” said Carl Pistorius’ lawyer Kenny Oldwage following the hearing at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court south of Johannesburg.