Pistorius’s brother faces homicide charges
The brother of “blade runner” Oscar Pistorius is facing a culpable homicide charge for a 2008 road death, the family lawyer has said.
Kenny Oldwage would not confirm details of the case Carl Pistorius is facing, but the development compounded problems for the family after Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was charged with premeditated murder following the 14 February shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Carl Pistorius was allegedly involved in a crash with a woman motorcyclist and he was supposed to be in court last Thursday, as his brother Oscar was facing a bail hearing, according to local media reports. Oscar was released on bail on Friday.
Following the hearing, the athlete was seen arriving at his uncle Arnold’s home.
He claims that when he fired shots through his bathroom door, he believed he was shooting at an intruder. Prosecutors say Pistorius intended to kill the model.
A funeral service for the 29-year-old law graduate took place last week.
‘Live with his conscience’
The father of Steenkamp has warned the 26-year-old athlete will have to “live with his conscience” if he is lying about how he killed her.
Barry Steenkamp said the Paralympian will “suffer alone” if his claim that he shot Ms Steenkamp accidentally, believing her to be a burglar, is false.
But Mr Steenkamp told the Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper he might be able to forgive Pistorius one day if the double-amputee is telling the truth.
Mike Steenkamp, Ms Steenkamp’s uncle, said Pistorius’s family did not initially try to contact the bereaved parents but had since done so, in what he considered to be a poorly-timed approach.
Describing the mood of the Pistorius family after the bail decision was announced in court, he said: “Everybody wants to jump up with joy. I think it was just done in the wrong context, completely.”