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Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp are pictured in Johannesburg on November 4, 2012/AFP

Africa

Pistorius back in the dock over lover’s killing

The Johannesburg-born Paralympic champion became an inspirational hero to millions as the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied competitors at the London Olympics last year.

Since the killing, details emerged of his rocky private life of rash behaviour, beautiful women, guns and fast cars, although his aunt was quoted in the media this week as saying he has turned to reading the bible.

He admitted in an interview with British newspaper last year that he slept with a pistol, machine gun, cricket bat and baseball bat for fear of burglars.

His family said Monday it was shaken by the graphic crime scene photos showing bloodstains on the toilet seat and surrounding floor and the bathroom door marked with two bullet holes just below the handle.

However it said it continues to have “great faith” in the country’s justice system and believes “that Oscar’s account of what happened on that terrible night in February will be borne out by the evidence”.

The position of the bullet holes appears to back Pistorius’s claim that he fired the shots while standing on his leg stumps, using a gun he kept under his bed.

The police have said they do not know the source of the pictures, but that the leaks would not jeopardise their case.

The “traumatised” athlete openly wept when he first appeared in court after his arrest, which sent shock waves throughout the world and brought his stellar career to an abrupt halt.

His agent said last month would not be racing this season as he had to focus on the court case and was not “mentally and physically ready” to compete at high level.

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Pistorius was freed on bail of one million rand (Sh8.6mn) and in March the court lifted a raft of stringent conditions including a travel ban and mandatory drug and alcohol tests.

He has lost lucrative contracts with US sportswear giant Nike and French cosmetics firm Clarins, among others, and has reportedly also been fined about one million rand for undeclared taxes.

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