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Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius’ charity work has been scrutinized by the prosecution on a second day of his sentencing hearing in Pretoria court.
The South African athlete’s main motive was to further his career, the prosecutor said, in an attempt to show he deserves jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder.
The defense is trying to show prison would be an inappropriate punishment.
It produced a second witness to say Oscar Pistorius showed real remorse and his disability would be a problem in jail.
On October 13, the prosecutor was angered by a call for the sentence to be house arrest and community service.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel labeled the suggestion as a “shockingly inappropriate” punishment.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said Oscar Pistorius had acted negligently when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last several days, with lawyers for Oscar Pistorius hoping they can prevent a jail sentence.
Proceedings began with Gerrie Nel’s cross-examination of Oscar Pistorius’ manager Peet Van Zyl.
Oscar Pistorius’ charity work has been scrutinized by the prosecution on a second day of his sentencing hearing in Pretoria court
At Tuesday morning’s session, Gerrie Nel tried to show that Oscar Pistorius’ honorary doctorate at the UK’s Strathclyde University was for his achievements “from a young age”, rather than recent charitable work.
Peet Van Zyl had said that the doctorate was for the athlete’s support for prosthetic limb development, but Gerrie Nel said there was no mention of that in the citation.
And he suggested to Peet Van Zyl that sportsmen often took on charity work for pragmatic reasons.
Later the prosecutor questioned whether Oscar Pistorius used his own funds to pay for prosthetics for disadvantaged young people, but Peet Van Zyl insisted that money earned for speaking which he asked to be paid not to himself but to charity was his own funds.
He also asked whether Peet Van Zyl had discussed future plans with the athlete, to which he replied that everything depended on the outcome of the trial.
Defense counsel Barry Roux then continued the line of questioning about Oscar Pistorius’ motivation for his charity work.
The athlete’s manager said that while he had contractual obligations to his sponsors, he was always available for them and never complained.
He also made himself available on other occasions and “went the extra mile” for disabled children, Peet Van Zyl added.
The prosecutor has reminded the court that the relationship between celebrity, charity and business is a quid pro quo, but it is not clear that he has done any more than that.
He says the judge’s verdict suggests that Gerrie Nel’s aggressive style may not work with her.
The next defense witness was Annette Vergeer, a probation officer who said she was working in a private capacity.
Reading out what she said was an objective report, she said Oscar Pistorius should receive a suspended sentence, community work, therapy, and correctional supervision.
Prison would punish him in a way that was not constructive, Annette Vergeer said, adding that he was “extremely broken” and would “only deteriorate” there.
“It is virtually impossible in prison to teach a person how to become a useful member of society, as there is no opportunity to practice these skills,” she said.
She said he had showed what she believed to be sincere grief and regret at the crime scene, and subsequent depression.
Oscar Pistorius had denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.
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Oscar Pistorius should not go to jail over the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, his sentencing hearing has been told.
A probation officer appearing for the defense said Oscar Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as “shockingly inappropriate”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder.
The decision was criticized by the victim’s family.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said the Paralympic champion had acted “negligently” when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
At the sentencing hearing, Joel Maringa, a prison service officer summoned by the defense, said Pistorius should perform community service and receive three years of house arrest rather than imprisonment.
“The accused will benefit from correctional supervision,” Joel Maringa said, adding that this will give him an “opportunity to restructure and modify his behavior”.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine
“We are basically not saying that he should be destroyed because he will still be coming back into the community,” he said.
Gerrie Nel described Joel Maringa’s suggestions as “shockingly inappropriate”, adding that they would amount to “no sentence”. He questioned whether Joel Maringa understood the gravity of Oscar Pistorius’ crime.
Reeva Steenkamp’s father, Barry, held his head in his hands as Joel Maringa spoke, while her friends shook their heads in disbelief.
The sentencing hearing, which has now been adjourned, is expected to last several days.
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius are hoping they can prevent a jail sentence.
His psychologist, Lore Hartzenberg, was the first defense witness to speak at the sentencing hearing.
She described Oscar Pistorius as a “broken man” after the killing. She said he was “very emotional” during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and retching.
Gerrie Nel said it was “very strange” that Lore Hartzenberg was “avoiding” answering questions about Oscar Pistorius having a new relationship.
Lore Hartzenberg said Oscar Pistorius had never mentioned a new girlfriend in the therapy sessions. She said she had only heard about the relationship from reports in the press.
The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day in 2013, saying he shot her by mistake.
Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria.
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp said “justice was not served” after Oscar Pistorius was acquitted of murder.
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Judge Thokozile Masipa is due to announce if Oscar Pistorius is guilty of the culpable homicide of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The judge cleared Oscar Pistorius of murder on September 11, saying the prosecution had failed to prove he intended to kill the model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013.
However, she said Oscar Pistorius’ conduct on the night in question had been negligent.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, admits firing through a toilet door at his home but says he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder.
Judge Thokozile Masipa is due to announce if Oscar Pistorius is guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp
Prompting tears from the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, Judge Thokozile Masipa said he could not have foreseen killing whoever was behind the door – but went on to say that he had acted hastily and with excessive force.
She described his actions as negligent.
Correspondents at Oscar Pistorius’ trial said the judge appeared to be leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide, when she adjourned unexpectedly for the day.
The charge of culpable homicide implies negligence without intention to kill and could still mean a jail sentence of up to 15 years. Legal experts suggest seven to 10 years is more likely.
The double amputee had denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
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Judge Thokozile Masipa has ruled out a verdict of premeditated murder in the Oscar Pistorius trial, saying the prosecution failed to prove he killed his girlfriend deliberately after an argument.
However, Judge Thokozile Masipa also rejected the defense’s argument that the athlete lacked criminal capacity.
The judge said she was satisfied the accused “could distinguish between right and wrong”.
She said he was an evasive witness but this did not mean he was guilty.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013, saying he thought there was an intruder
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013, saying he thought there was an intruder.
The judge could also find him guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he would face a long jail term.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
Judge Thokozile Masipa began by detailing the charges against the athlete and repeating extracts of his testimony, reading in a slow, measured way. She then moved on to a summary of the trial.
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Judge Thokosile Masipa in the Oscar Pistorius trial has questioned the reliability of several witnesses in court, as she delivers her verdict on the athlete.
Judge Thokosile Masipa said humans were fallible, and may not have heard gunshots or screaming as they thought.
Correspondents say this could make a premeditated murder verdict unlikely.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013, saying he thought there was an intruder.
The judge could also find him guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he would face a long jail term.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
Judge Thokosile Masipa began by detailing the charges against the athlete and repeating extracts of his testimony, reading in a slow, measured way.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces at his Pretoria trial (photo AP)
She then moved on to a summary of the trial.
A tense-looking Oscar Pistorius looked on from the dock, and then began to weep.
Judge Thokosile Masipa said that defense claims that police contaminated evidence and removed items from the crime scene “paled into insignificance”.
She questioned the reliability of several witnesses who apparently heard screams and gunshots at the time of the incident, saying most of those who said they had heard the incident had “got facts wrong”.
The judge also said that the court would not make inferences about the state of the relationship between Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp. The prosecution has suggested that it was “on the rocks”.
Correspondents say the judge appeared to be moving much more quickly than expected through the evidence, in a process which had been expected take hours or even days.
During his closing remarks last month, Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux conceded that the athlete should be found guilty of negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant – which carries a maximum penalty of five years.
Most of the trial, which began on March 3, 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention.
Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
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Judge Thokosile Masipa is due to give her verdict at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria, South Africa.
The 27-year-old Paralympic champion faces 25 years in jail if found guilty of premeditated murder.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013, saying he thought there was an intruder.
Judge Thokosile Masipa could also find Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he would face a long jail term.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
During his closing remarks last month, Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux conceded that the athlete should be found guilty of negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant – which carries a maximum penalty of five years.
Most of the trial, which began on March 3, 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day of 2013
Before the fatal shooting, Oscar Pistorius was feted in South Africa and known as the “blade runner”.
He had won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
The judgement at his trial is likely to be well over 100 pages. The judge will go through each charge, summing up the prosecution and defense cases and analyzing the evidence.
Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
Oscar Pistorius denies the prosecution’s allegation that the couple – who had been dating for three months – had rowed.
The athlete said he thought Reeva Steenkamp was still in the bedroom when he heard a noise in the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder.
The prosecution have tried to characterize Oscar Pistorius as a “hothead”, while his defense team have portrayed him as having a heightened response to perceived danger because of his disability and background.
In July, a psychiatric report requested by the judge said Oscar Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions.
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Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer has said in closing remarks that prosecutors have twisted the facts to discredit the South African athlete in his murder trial.
Barry Roux said Oscar Pistorius should have faced a lesser charge of culpable homicide over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Reeva Steenkamp.
Barry Roux conceded that he should be found guilty for negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant.
Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
In the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013, Oscar Pistorius says he mistook his girlfriend – a model and law graduate – for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.
Oscar Pistorius denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Reeva Steenkamp
Once concluding arguments are finished, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial to consider her ruling. Analysts say this process could take between a week and a month as she has 4,000 pages of evidence to consider.
The prosecution is trying to characterize Oscar Pistorius as a “hothead” who intentionally killed Reeva Steenkamp after an argument.
His defense team wants to portray him as having a heightened response to perceived danger due to his disability and background.
In court on Friday, Barry Roux said growing up with a disability conditioned Oscar Pistorius always to confront danger because he could not flee.
He described it as a “slow burn” of insecurities and compared it to an abused woman shooting her abuser.
Barry Roux also dealt with phone data evidence on the night of the shooting to show that the timeline of events fits the defense’s argument that Oscar Pistorius fired the shots at the toilet door first on his stumps.
Realizing he had shot Reeva Steenkamp by mistake, the defense says Oscar Pistorius put on his prosthetics and used a cricket bat to knock down the door at 03.17 local time – five minutes after he says shots were fired.
The prosecution alleges that the noises heard at 03.17 were the shots being fired.
Barry Roux said analysis of the evidence showed there was anxious high-pitched screaming followed by shouts of “help, help, help” between the two sounds, which near neighbors say were made by a man, not a woman as other witnesses testified.
Earlier, the defense said that there had been “no respect for the crime scene”, saying the state’s case was discredited as Oscar Pistorius’ house was tampered with inadvertently, with a fan and duvet being moved.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement on Thursday, argued the athlete “cannot escape” a murder conviction, accusing him of being a “deceitful witness” who told the court a “snowball of lies”.
Known as the “bull terrier”, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the athlete’s lawyers had presented two lines of defense that “can never be reconciled”.
Oscar Pistorius said he had fired both involuntarily and also out of fear, Gerrie Nel argued, insisting the court had to choose only one of his defenses.
Last month, a psychiatric report said Oscar Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions.
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At the start of closing arguments in his murder trial, Oscar Pistorius has been accused of being a “deceitful witness” who dropped the “baton of truth”.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his concluding remarks on Thursday, with the defense due to follow on Friday.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African athlete says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her after a row.
Reeva Steenkamp was killed at Oscar Pistorius’ home in Pretoria on February 14, 2013.
The long-running trial was adjourned last month ahead of closing arguments.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (photo Reuters)
At the court in Pretoria, Gerrie Nel began his closing argument by accusing the athlete’s lawyers of presenting two lines of defense that “can never be reconciled”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, said he had fired both involuntarily and also out of fear, Gerrie Nel argued, insisting the court had to choose only one of his defenses.
He said the court “should have no difficulty in rejecting” the athlete’s version of events because it was “devoid of any truth”.
Gerrie Nel also attacked Oscar Pistorius for presenting himself as “a victim of circumstance”.
Oscar Pistorius’ estranged father, Henke, was in the packed courtroom for the first time during the trial. It was also the first time that Barry Steenkamp, Reeva’s father, had attended.
The prosecution is convinced Oscar Pistorius gave conflicting accounts of how and why the double amputee shot Reeva Steenkamp four times through his toilet door.
Judge Thokozile Masipa is now likely to intervene more and her questions could well provide hints about a future verdict.
Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer, Barry Roux, will give his closing remarks after Gerrie Nel, in what correspondents say is the final showdown between two of South Africa’s top legal minds.
The judge is expected to adjourn the trial after hearing the arguments to consider her ruling, a process that analysts say will take in between a week to a month.
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Oscar Pistorius was involved in an argument at a nightclub at the weekend, his spokesperson has said.
The South African athlete had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer who said he was drunk, The Star newspaper says.
Oscar Pistorius’ spokesperson said the argument took place after Jared Mortimer started to “aggressively interrogate” him about his murder trial.
Reeva Steenkamp was killed at Oscar Pistorius’ home in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, on February 14, 2013.
Jared Mortimer said he got involved in a row with Oscar Pistorius at the nightclub in Johannesburg’s upmarket suburb of Sandton, after the athlete insulted his friends and South African President Jacob Zuma’s family, The Star reports.
Oscar Pistorius had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer at a Johannesburg nightclub (photo AP)
“I took that personally because I am very good friends with a member of the Zuma family,” Jared Mortimer is quoted as saying.
Jared Mortimer said the Olympic sprinter was intoxicated and started to poke him in the chest while they were talking.
The businessman said he then pushed Oscar Pistorius away from him and the athlete fell over a chair.
The club’s bouncers helped Oscar Pistorius up, but were asked to remove him after he “had a confrontation with another man”, Jared Mortimer is quoted as saying.
Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for Oscar Pistorius’ family, disputed Jared Mortimer’s version of events.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, was in the VIP section of the club when he was approached by a man who had since been identified as Jared Mortimer, she said.
“The individual, according to my client, started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial,” said Anneliese Burgess.
She added that Oscar Pistorius “regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention”.
On Sunday, hours after the incident, Oscar Pistorius tweeted for the first time since the death of Reeva Steenkamp.
He tweeted a Bible verse, a collage of pictures of his humanitarian work, and an extract from Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning.
Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial was adjourned last week for closing arguments on August 7.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux has said that some witnesses refused to testify at the televised trial of the South African athlete because of the publicity.
They did not want “their voices all over the world”, Barry Roux told the court as his team ended its case.
The court has now adjourned until August 7 for closing arguments.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux has said that some witnesses refused to testify at the televised trial of the South African athlete because of the publicity
The prosecution accuses Oscar Pistorius of deliberately shooting dead Reeva Steenkamp after the pair had an argument.
The trial, which began on March 3, is the first in South Africa to be broadcast live on TV and has attracted intense global attention.
Barry Roux said the defense, which began its presentation on March 28, had no more witnesses to call.
He said he had chosen not to ask Judge Thokozile Masipa to make them appear, the Associated Press news agency reports.
“There’s nothing that we can do about it,” he said.
He did not name the witnesses who had refused to testify.
Both the prosecution and defence teams must submit their written arguments Judge Thokozile Masipa before the trial resumes in August.
She warned that these documents should not be leaked before the arguments were put forward in court.
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The defense team of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has condemned the airing of a video showing the athlete re-enacting the events of the night he killed Reeva Sttenkamp.
The footage shows Oscar Pistorius shouting and running on his stumps as he simulates holding a handgun.
It was aired in Australia only by broadcaster Channel 7 on Sunday.
A spokesperson for Oscar Pistorius’ said that the footage was filmed in order to create a “forensic animation”, but that it was “obtained illegally”.
The video showing Oscar Pistorius re-enacting the events of the night he killed Reeva Sttenkamp was aired by Channel 7 in Australia
“For the family, the airing of this footage constitutes a staggering breach of trust and an invasion of the family’s privacy,” the statement said.
The footage has not been seen in court in South Africa, where the athlete is on trial for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
In the video – filmed at his uncle’s house – Oscar Pistorius rushes forwards on the stumps of his legs.
Oscar Pistorius holds out an imaginary gun in his right hand and screams: “Reeva, call the police.”
He is also shown carrying a woman out of a toilet and downstairs.
The re-enactment was done to help US specialists create a computer model of the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.
It is not clear why the full reconstruction was not used at the murder trial.
In the leaked footage Oscar Pistorius looks unsteady on his stumps, but perhaps more mobile than one of his doctors had described in his evidence last week.
Oscar Pistorius says he shot his girlfriend after mistaking her for an intruder in their house last year.
The prosecution argues that he killed Reeva Steenkamp deliberately after a row.
Oscar Pistorius’ trial will resume on Monday, July 7.
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Oscar Pistorius has been greatly affected by his disability, a sports doctor has told his murder trial.
Dr. Wayne Derman told the court in Pretoria that Oscar Pistorius suffered “significant stress and anxiety”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, says he shot Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder in their house last year.
The prosecution argues that the Paralympic champion killed his girlfriend deliberately after a row.
At issue is Oscar Pistorius’ state of mind at the time of the shooting.
Oscar Pistorius has a lifetime vulnerability as a result of his disability
On Monday, the court heard he was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.
According to a psychiatrists’ report, Oscar Pistorius is capable of distinguishing between right and wrong and so should bear criminal responsibility for his actions.
The court also heard a psychologist’s assessment on Wednesday which found that Oscar Pistorius had PTSD since the shooting and could be a suicide risk.
It found he was mourning Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law graduate.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, Barry Roux, has argued that his client would react more sharply to fear than an able-bodied person would because of the anxiety caused by his disability.
Wayne Derman, a professor of sports and exercise medicine at the University of Cape Town, was the final witness called by the defense.
Dr. Wayne Derman said Oscar Pistorius had had a “lifetime of real and learnt vulnerability” as a result of his disability. Disability, he said, had a “knock-on” effect through one’s entire life.
“Disability never sleeps.”
Oscar Pistorius, the professor added, also had a “profound fear of crime”.
The athlete, Wayne Derman said, had developed an “exaggerated fight response” and this was responsible for the “horrific tragedy” of Reeva Steenkamp’s death.
Oscar Pistorius says he fired multiple shots into a toilet cubicle where Reeva Steenkamp was, while in a state of panic.
The athlete and Reeva Steenkamp, 29, had been dating for about three months before the shooting.
Oscar Pistorius has often displayed his emotions during the trial, including breaking down in tears in court.
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According to a psychologist’s report submitted at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial, the athlete has post-traumatic stress disorder and could be a suicide risk.
The report, read by Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyer, said he was mourning his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
On Monday, the court heard that Oscar Pistorius, 27, was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.
The Paralympic champion denies murder, saying he killed Reeva Steenkamp by mistake when fearing there was an intruder in the house.
Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp (photo EMPICS)
The prosecution says the Olympic athlete deliberately killed Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, after the couple had an argument.
Both prosecution and defense have accepted the findings of the psychologist’s report.
Two reports – one by a psychologist and another by three psychiatrists – were drawn up after a month of tests to evaluate the athlete’s state of mind.
The prosecution on Monday noted that the psychiatrists’ report said Oscar Pistorius, 27, was capable of distinguishing between right and wrong and so should bear criminal responsibility for his actions.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux on Wednesday quoted the second evaluation as saying that Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee, has a history of feeling insecure and vulnerable, especially without his prosthetic legs.
It said he was likely to react more sharply to fear than an able-bodied person would.
“Should he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen and increase the risks for suicide,” Barry Roux quoted the report as saying.
It also said he did not show signs of narcissism or explosive rage, which is usually seen in men who are abusive to their partners.
The court has previously heard that Reeva Steenkamp had sent the athlete a message saying: “I’m scared of you sometimes.”
Final defense witness Wayne Derman, professor of sports and exercise medicine at the University of Cape Town, said Oscar Pistorius was an anxious individual, with hand tremors and chronic problems with the stumps of his legs.
Earlier, Oscar Pistorius’ manager was cross-examined, with prosecutor Gerrie Nel concentrating on the sprinter’s reported rows with roommate Arnu Fourie and his love life.
On Tuesday, Peet van Zyl said Oscar Pistorius had become a “global icon” at the 2012 London Olympics and could have increased his income five or six times.
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Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp, a psychological report said as his murder trial resumed in Pretoria.
The report was presented following an evaluation into his mental health.
Oscar Pistorius’ defense team has argued he was suffering from an anxiety disorder at the time of the shooting.
Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp
Both prosecution and defense have accepted the results of the report.
The defense team is now hearing from Dr. Gerry Versfeld, who amputated Oscar Pistorius’ legs when he was just 11 months old.
Oscar Pistorius had been born without the fibulas in both of his legs but went on to become an Olympic athlete.
Dr. Gerry Versfeld is testifying about the impact of the disability on Oscar Pistorius, now 27, and to what extent he can walk without his prosthetic legs.
The defense is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days.
Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Oscar Pistorius’ house in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day last year.
The couple had been dating for three months.
“Mr. Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged,” said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report.
The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Gad).
Oscar Pistorius underwent a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.
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The psychiatrist evaluating Oscar Pistorius in the trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has suffered a heart attack.
However, this is not expected to delay the trial, which resumes on June 30, the prosecution say.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, is due to complete a 30-day psychiatric assessment on Friday.
The judge in his trial ordered the tests after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend and says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
The South African Paralympic champion checked in as a day patient to Pretoria’s Weskoppies psychiatric hospital on May 26, where he has been assessed by a team of health experts for seven hours a day.
Three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist were tasked to determine whether his state of mind and disability had an effect on him when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.
South Africa’s eNCA broadcaster earlier reported that the psychiatrist’s heart attack may have caused a delay in the handing over of Oscar Pistorius’ psychiatric evaluation report.
The psychiatrist in question, Dr. Leon Fine, had not yet signed the report, according to eNCA’s website.
The prosecution had argued the tests were essential after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster, who diagnosed the athlete with GAD, told the court he was “a danger to society”.
The defense vigorously opposed the move.
The court in Pretoria is expected to hear the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ medical tests when the trial resumes on Monday.
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Oscar Pistorius has begun his mental evaluation at a psychiatric hospital in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.
The judge at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial has ordered that his mental state be assessed by health experts as an outpatient for up to 30 days.
The move comes after a defense witness said the double amputee Paralympic champion was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Oscar Pistorius 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius arrived at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital, where he will be assessed for seven hours
He says he accidentally shot Reeva Steenkamp through the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius arrived before 09:00 local time at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital, where he will be assessed for seven hours.
He will have to do this every weekday for the next month; the court’s proceedings are not set to resume until 30 June.
Three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist are to determine whether Oscar Pistorius’ state of mind and disability had an effect on him when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said they would “inquire into whether the accused by reason of mental illness or mental defect was at the time of the commission of the offence criminally responsible for the offence as charged”.
She said the team would decide whether he was “capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act”.
The panel of experts is also expected to interview some of Oscar Pistorius’ family members, South Africa’s eNCA broadcaster reports.
The prosecution had argued the tests were essential after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster, who diagnosed Oscar Pistorius with GAD, told the court he was “a danger to society”.
Oscar Pistorius’ defense team vigorously opposed the move.
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Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to start daily tests on Monday to assess his mental state when he killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Thokozile Masipa at Oscar Pistorius’ trial told him to attend Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria as an outpatient for a month.
It comes after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to start daily tests to assess his mental state
He says he accidentally shot his girlfriend through the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
The prosecution had argued the tests were essential after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster told the court in Pretoria the double amputee was “a danger to society”.
But the defense vigorously opposed the move.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said on Wednesday that four appointed psychiatrists would “inquire into whether the accused by reason of mental illness or mental defect was at the time of the commission of the offence criminally responsible for the offence as charged”.
She said the team would decide whether he was “capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act”.
Court proceedings were adjourned until June 30.
Legal experts say that the case may well hinge on the judge’s understanding of the athlete’s state of mind when he pulled the trigger.
They say the prosecution is keen to show that the defense keeps changing its reasons why Oscar Pistorius fired his gun – from putative self-defense, to accidental shooting, and now to something linked to his anxiety disorder.
Last week Judge Thokozile Masipa said that the criminal code stipulates that if an accused person is alleged not to be criminally responsible or is alleged to be mentally ill, he should be evaluated.
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Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation, the judge at his Pretoria murder trial has ruled.
Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled that psychiatric evidence before the court could not replace “a proper inquiry” into his mental health.
Correspondents say the trial, which began in March, will almost certainly now face a lengthy delay.
The prosecution argued on Tuesday that psychiatric tests were essential and that he should be referred.
Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation
But the defense vigorously opposed the move.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
He says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius could be evaluated for a minimum of 30 days at a psychiatric faculty as a result of the evaluation order.
In her ruling Judge Thokozile Masipa said that the South African criminal code stipulates that if an accused person is alleged not to be criminally responsible or is alleged to be mentally ill, he should be evaluated.
She said that such an evaluation would ensure that Oscar Pistorius would get a fair trial, adding it would be “preferable” for him to undergo the evaluation as an outpatient.
Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel made the referral application on Tuesday after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster said earlier that the double amputee was suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Gerrie Nel said that the disorder diagnosis left him with no choice but to apply for an evaluation because the condition might have affected Oscar Pistorius’ behavior on the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp.
Legal experts say that the case may well hinge on the judge’s understanding of the athlete’s state of mind when he pulled the trigger.
They say the prosecution is keen to show that the defense keeps changing its reasons why Oscar Pistorius fired his gun – from putative self-defense, to accidental shooting, and now to something linked to his anxiety disorder.
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Prosecutor Gerrie Nel in the trial of Oscar Pistorius has formally requested that he undergo a mental observation.
Gerrie Nel made the application after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster said the Olympic double amputee was “a danger to society”.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said she would announce her decision on Wednesday.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
The Paralympic champion says he accidentally shot Reeva Steenkamp through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius may spend up to 30 days in a state mental health institution for observation and assessment of his mental health
The court has adjourned until Wednesday.
The prosecution accused the defense on Tuesday of changing its plea – from putative self-defense to a psychiatric disorder.
Gerrie Nel said that a “psychiatric evaluation was essential” and it was in the interests of justice for the accused to be referred.
The defense is vigorously resisting the prosecution move, which it argues is “manifestly absurd”.
Dr. Merryll Vorster told the court earlier that she would not say that Oscar Pistorius had “a mental illness” and that he was “still able to function at high level as an athlete and still able to socialize”.
But she said that people with Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GADs) like Oscar Pistorius probably should not have firearms.
She said that GAD would not “render you unfit to stand trial”.
On Monday Dr. Merryll Vorster said that the athlete had had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was “anxious” about violent crime.
His actions on Valentine’s Day last year “should be seen in context of his anxiety”, she said.
If the prosecution request is granted, Oscar Pistorius may spend up to 30 days in a state mental health institution for observation and assessment of his mental health.
The athlete has described the prosecution move as “a joke”, insisting that Monday’s evidence from Dr. Merryll Vorster had “gone well”.
But the prosecution argues that her testimony is further proof that the athlete is changing his defense.
Court sources have indicated that it is unlikely that Judge Thokozile Masipa will grant the prosecution its request.
Dr. Merryll Vorster said on Monday that the reactions of Oscar Pistorius in the early hours of 14 February 2013 would have been different to that of a “normal, able-bodied person without generalized anxiety disorder”.
She said that Oscar Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with “fight” rather than “flight”.
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A psychiatrist has said at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial that South African Olympic athlete has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was “anxious” about violent crime.
Meryl Vorster said that Oscar Pistorius’ actions when he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year “should be seen in context of his anxiety”.
The prosecution dramatically asked for Oscar Pistorius to undergo mental observation.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp.
The defense opposed the application before the court adjourned on Monday. It will reconvene on Tuesday.
Correspondents say that if the prosecution’s application succeeds, Oscar Pistorius may spend up to 30 days in a state mental health institution for observation and assessment of his mental health.
Oscar Pistorius has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was anxious about violent crime
It was expected that the defense would conclude its case by the end of this week – after which both sides would have an opportunity to present their closing arguments.
Oscar Pistorius says he accidentally shot Reeva Steenkamp through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Giving evidence on Monday, Meryl Vorster said that Oscar Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with “fight” rather than “flight”.
The anxiety disorder was the result of surgery at the age of 11 months to remove his lower legs, she said, a “traumatic assault” for an infant at that age.
She said that Oscar Pistorius felt remorse over Reeva Steenkamp’s death.
“He feels guilty and has developed a depressive disorder as a result,” she said.
The psychiatrist said that the reactions of Oscar Pistorius in the early hours of 14 February 2013 would have been different to that of a “normal, able-bodied person without generalised anxiety disorder”.
However, she said that this would not have affected his ability to distinguish between right and wrong and that it was up to the court to decide whether his anxiety disorder – from which he had suffered since childhood – diminished his responsibility.
“I think the generalized anxiety is relevant to the case. But the court will have to decide,” she said.
Meryl Vorster said that generalized anxiety disorders are not uncommon, and were not signs of mental illness.
Safety measures at his home were “out of proportion” to the threat of crime in South Africa, she said.
Meryl Vorster said that Oscar Pistorius’ parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent.
“[He was] largely absent, and his mother was anxious, sleeping with a firearm under her pillow,” she said.
She said that Oscar Pistorius’ mother’s death in March 2002 meant that he lost an “emotional attachment figure”.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked Meryl Vorster whether someone with anxiety disorder plus guns would be “a danger to society”.
“Yes,” she replied.
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A ballistics expert called by Oscar Pistorius’ defense team at his murder trial in Pretoria has questioned the state’s version of how he shot his girlfriend.
Defense witness Tom Wolmarans says wounds show Reeva Steenkamp may have been standing when first shot.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
The prosecution alleges he shot her dead after a row and that she was cowering from him in the toilet.
He says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius has sold his home in the Silverwoods Estate where Reeva Steenkamp died
Tom Wolmarans, a former police officer, says all four shots hit Reeva Steenkamp.
The state alleges one missed and ricocheted off a wall and injured her back and that the final bullet hit her hand and head as she was sitting in a defensive position.
But Tom Wolmarans said splinter evidence showed the model was leaning forward towards the door when the first bullet hit her hip.
The next bullet hit Reeva Steenkamp’s arm, the third bullet her hand and the last bullet hit her head as she was falling backwards, he said.
On Thursday the court heard evidence about when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Oscar Pistorius has sold his home in the Silverwoods Estate where Reeva Steenkamp died.
He put the house on the market at the end of March in order to fund his legal costs, one of his lawyers said at the time.
An estate agent confirmed to South Africa’s Beeld newspaper that a sale was under way.
Oscar Pistorius trial started at the beginning of March and was expected to last five weeks. The defense has said that it hopes to wrap up its case by May 16.
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Oscar Pistorius’s trial has begun today with discussion of when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal.
Witness Christina Lundgren, an anaesthetist, described when a stomach is likely to be emptied after eating.
Oscar Pistorius’s trial has begun today with discussion of when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal (photo AP)
Christina Lundgren said the prosecution’s argument that Reeva Steenkamp’s stomach would have been empty if she ate when Oscar Pistorius said she did was “pure speculation”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013.
The South African Paralympic sprinter says he accidentally shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius had said Reeva Steenkamp ate her last meal the evening before she was killed, and that the couple had been sleeping before waking in the early hours.
The prosecution has argued that this cannot be true as Reeva Steenkamp had food in her stomach at the time of her death.
Speaking on Thursday, Prof. Christina Lundgren, who was shown copies of the post mortem report, said there were many factors that could have delayed gastric emptying in Reeva Steenkamp’s stomach, including sleep, exercise, medication, and her age.
“In an ideal world, after six hours of fasting after [the] meal her stomach should probably have been empty. But there are so many unknowns about possible factors that might have delayed gastric emptying,” she said.
“One cannot state it as being fact” that Reeva Steenkamp’s stomach would have been empty six hours after eating, Prof. Christina Lundgren said.
“I would say it is purely speculative.”
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Oscar Pistorius’ defense team is calling more witnesses at his murder trial in Pretoria, as it seeks to prove that he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by mistake.
Two of Oscar Pistorius’ closest neighbors said on Tuesday they heard a man crying loudly on the night of the shooting.
On Monday two other people – who were the first at the scene – described his frantic efforts to revive Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African athlete is accused of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp and says he shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder.
Two of Oscar Pistorius’ closest neighbors said on Tuesday they heard a man crying loudly on the night of the shooting (photo WPTV)
The trial adjourned early on Monday after defense lawyer Barry Roux failed to get further witnesses to court following a two-week adjournment over the Easter break.
Oscar Pistorius’ next-door neighbor, Michael Nhlengethwa, told the court on Tuesday that on the night of the shooting he went to the house after hearing a man “crying very loudly”.
“I saw Oscar kneeling next to the lady, he was just crying,” the witness said.
His wife, Eontle Nhlengethwa, also testifying, said she heard the loud sound of a “male person’s voice” crying “help, help, help”.
Both witnesses said they did not hear a woman screaming, contradicting prosecution witnesses who had testified to hearing a woman scream.
A ballistics expert is expected to take the stand later on Tuesday.
On Monday, the court heard from two other neighbors who were first at the scene – Johan Stander and his daughter Carice.
Johan Stander said the athlete “was broken” as he desperately tried to save his girlfriend, sobbing and praying for her life. He was the first person Oscar Pistorius called after the shooting.
He implied that he thought Oscar Pistorius’ reaction showed that the shooting had been a mistake.
“I saw the truth that morning and I feel it,” he told the court.
He said Oscar Pistorius told him: “I shot Reeva. I thought she was an intruder, please come quick.”
In an emotional testimony, his daughter, Carice Viljoen, told the court she feared Oscar Pistorius would shoot himself with the gun used to kill Reeva Steenkamp.
Before the Easter break, Oscar Pistorius faced several days of cross-examination from the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts “as an escape”.
As well as a ballistics expert, the defense is expected to call a psychologist to speak about Oscar Pistorius’ disability and his acute sense of vulnerability.
The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behavior by Oscar Pistorius and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door.
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Oscar Pistorius “was broken” after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, his neighbor Johan Stander has said, as the murder trial resumed after a two-week break.
Johan Stander was the first person Oscar Pistorius called after shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
The South African Paralympic champion denies intentionally killing her.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, says he shot through a toilet door while in a state of panic, fearing there was an intruder in his house.
The trial was adjourned on April 17 for an Easter break after Oscar Pistorius and two expert witnesses had given evidence for the defense.
Johan Stander implied that he thought Oscar Pistorius’ reactions showed that the shooting had been a mistake.
Oscar Pistorius “was broken” after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
“I saw the truth that morning and I feel it,” he told the court.
“He was desperate to save her [and] prayed to God.”
Johan Stander, who lives about 350 meters from Oscar Pistorius said he received a call at 03.18 on February 14, 2013.
He said Oscar Pistorius told him: “I shot Reeva. I thought she was an intruder, please come quick.”
Johan Stander said that when he and his family arrived at the house, they saw Oscar Pistorius coming downstairs with Reeva Steenkamp in his arms.
“I could see she had a head-wound,” Johan Stander said.
“He was broken. He was screaming, he was crying, he was praying,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
“It’s not something I would like to experience again,” the neighbor said.
“He asked us to assist him to take her to hospital.”
Johan Stander also said there had been several recent break-ins in the private estate where he and Oscar Pistorius live.
However, under cross-examination, he accepted that it was a safe place to live.
Before the Easter break, Oscar Pistorius faced several days of cross-examination from the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts “as an escape”.
As well as neighbors, Oscar Pistorius’ defense team is expected to call on a ballistics expert.
A psychologist is also set to be called to speak about Oscar Pistorius’ disability and his acute sense of vulnerability.
The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behavior by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door.
If Oscar Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.
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The family of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has denied he took acting lessons ahead of his testimony in the trial of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
In a statement, they say claims Oscar Pistorius had received coaching for his emotional performance were “devoid of the truth”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, has broken down on several occasions during the trial, often disrupting proceedings.
He denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year.
Oscar Pistorius says he fired four shots through a locked toilet door out of fear, believing there was a burglar inside.
Oscar Pistorius has broken down on several occasions during the trial
But the prosecution says the 29-year-old model and law graduate was deliberately killed after the couple had an argument.
South African columnist Jani Allan claimed Oscar Pistorius took acting lessons ahead of his trial in an open letter to the athlete last week, saying she had heard it “from a reliable source”.
“Oscar, you are the latest in a long line of faux heroes. Like so many who preceded you, you have betrayed your people and disappointed your fans,” Jani Allan wrote.
Oscar Pistorius’ family said they felt compelled to deny the claims after they were widely circulated in the media.
In a statement on the athlete’s website, spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said Jani Allan had never met Oscar Pistorius and that any knowledge she had of him was “fictitious”.
“This type of comment makes a mockery of the enormous human tragedy involving the Steenkamp family and our client and his family,” it adds.
The allegations followed seven days of emotional testimony from Oscar Pistorius, who at times broke down in court and vomited when evidence from the post-mortem examination was presented to court.
Oscar Pistorius trial has been adjourned over the Easter period and will resume on May 5.
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