Pistorius speaks ‘from heart’ on Valentines Day
Johannesburg – Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic athlete who faces a murder trial next month, marked Valentines Day with what he said were a few words from his heart.
The double-amputee runner, who has lived in virtual seclusion while on bail, said he was consumed by sorrow for fatally shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in his home a year ago today (NZ time).
The rare statement from Pistorius was posted on his website.
‘‘No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident that has caused such heart- ache for everyone who truly loved – and continues to love Reeva,’’ said Pistorius, who told a court last year that he shot Steenkamp because he mistook her for an intruder. Prosecutors allege the track star intentionally killed her after an argument.
‘‘The pain and sadness – especially for Reeva’s parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow,’’ Pistorius said. ‘‘The loss of Reeva and the com- plete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.’’
Pistorius also tweeted a link to his website alongside the phrase: ‘‘A few words from my heart.’’
His last tweet was about his foundation work on February 11 last year, three days before he killed Steenkamp in his bathroom in the predawn hours. The murder trial starts March 3 in Pretoria, the capital.
Today’s statement from Pistorius, 27, was unusual because his uncle, Arnold, has normally been quoted in statements from his camp, which has sought to shield the runner from intense media in a case that transfixed many around the world.
Steenkamp’s mother, June, plans to attend the trial. No members of Steenkamp’s immediate family have attended any of Pistorius’ previous court dates. Pistorius also faces other firearms-related charges.
On Thursday, a spokeswoman for Pistorius said he reached a settlement with a woman over an alleged assault case from 2009 because his lawyers advised him he could not fight civil and criminal legal battles at the same time.
He was arrested and accused of causing an injury to Cassidy TaylorMemmory, a guest at his house five years ago, after allegedly slamming a door and then punching it.
Pistorius was the first doubleamputee to run at the world championships and the Olympics. He faces a possible life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison before the chance of parole if he is convicted of premeditated murder in Steenkamp’s killing.