Oscar’s brother faces charges after death of cyclist
JOHANNESBURG: Carl Pistorius, brother of murder accused Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, “deeply regrets” the incident in which a woman cyclist lost her life after colliding with his car.
It has emerged that Carl is in legal trouble of his own after it came to light that he was charged with culpable homicide following a 2008 road accident in Vanderbijlpark.
Carl appeared at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday – the day before his brother Oscar, accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was released on bail at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
“Following the accident, culpable homicide charges were brought against Carl Pistorius but the charges were later withdrawn by the State,” lawyer Kenny Oldwadge said yesterday.
However, the charges were later reinstated by the deputy public prosecutor at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Oldwadge, speaking on Carl’s behalf, said there was no doubt his client was innocent and the charge would be challenged in court.
“Carl deeply regrets the accident,” he added.
According to Oldwadge, blood tests by police at the time proved he was not under the influence of alcohol.
Carl is due back in court at the end of next month.
NPA head of communication Bulelwa Makeke confirmed yesterday that Carl had been on the court roll to appear on charges of culpable homicide on Thursday. However, further details regarding the woman who was killed were not immediately available.
The case was postponed for the defence to make representations to the senior public prosecutor, she said.
e-News reported that the case was reinstated “under pressure from the woman’s family” who felt there was evidence it was not just an accident, but alleged negligence on his part.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe told the media at a briefing in Pretoria yesterday that he was not aware of conflict between the NPA and the police over Oscar Pistorius's bail application.
He is out on R1-million bail.