Pistorius bail appeal set
Brother’s crash death trial starts day earlier
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa Oscar Pistorius’ appeal against his bail conditions will be heard on Thursday, a day after the culpable homicide trial of older brother Carl begins, a family lawyer told The Associated Press on Friday.
Advocate Kenny Oldwadge said they had confirmation from Pretoria’s North Gauteng High Court that the appeal is scheduled for March 28 at the High Court, meaning the brothers will both likely have legal proceedings on the same day.
The Olympic athlete, charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last month, is challenging travel restrictions and having to report twice a week to a police station, among other conditions.
Oldwadge and prosecutors said Pistorius — who hasn’t been seen publicly since he was granted bail — was not required to appear in court for the appeal.
The next part of the 26-year-old double-amputee runner’s high-profile case — which continues to grip South Africans and much of the world’s media — will now take place while brother Carl is in another court to defend himself against a culpable homicide charge for alleged negligent driving in the death of a 36-year-old woman in a road collision in 2008.
Carl was going to trial on Wednesday and Thursday in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, south of Johannesburg, prosecutors said. The 28-year-old Carl denies the charges and Oldwadge said he would lead Carl’s defence at the trial.