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| Oscar Pistorius to sell Pretoria mansion to cover legal costs | |
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| Oscar Pistorius is selling his Pretoria home to cover the spiralling legal costs of his ongoing murder trial, his lawyer has confirmed. | Oscar Pistorius is selling his Pretoria home to cover the spiralling legal costs of his ongoing murder trial, his lawyer has confirmed. |
| A statement on his official website said the athlete is putting his Silver Woods Estate mansion, where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, up for sale "to cover his increasing legal costs". | A statement on his official website said the athlete is putting his Silver Woods Estate mansion, where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, up for sale "to cover his increasing legal costs". |
| The Paralympian blames the "unexpected" extension of his murder trial beyond the initial three week period for which it was originally set to take place. | The Paralympian blames the "unexpected" extension of his murder trial beyond the initial three week period for which it was originally set to take place. |
| Lawyer Brian Webber said in a statement: "Due to the delay in finalising the trial, the decision to urgently dispose of his single biggest asset has had to be made." | Lawyer Brian Webber said in a statement: "Due to the delay in finalising the trial, the decision to urgently dispose of his single biggest asset has had to be made." |
| "With the trial now already into its third week and as the prosecution is still leading evidence, it is clear that the legal process will last significantly longer than originally indicated by the state," he added. | "With the trial now already into its third week and as the prosecution is still leading evidence, it is clear that the legal process will last significantly longer than originally indicated by the state," he added. |
| Mr Webber said the athlete has not returned to his upscale mansion since Ms Steenkamp was shot and "cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again". The property remains sealed. | Mr Webber said the athlete has not returned to his upscale mansion since Ms Steenkamp was shot and "cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again". The property remains sealed. |
| Pistorius was released on bail of one million rand (£73,000) in February last year. The athlete has been paying his own legal fees since he was arrested on charges of murder. | Pistorius was released on bail of one million rand (£73,000) in February last year. The athlete has been paying his own legal fees since he was arrested on charges of murder. |
| His legal team led by defence counsel Barry Roux reportedly includes three full-time lawyers in court, ballistics and forensics experts. | |
| The Paralympian has also lost lucrative contracts with Nike, reportedly worth $2 million, sunglasses maker Oakley, and French designer Thierry Mugler. | The Paralympian has also lost lucrative contracts with Nike, reportedly worth $2 million, sunglasses maker Oakley, and French designer Thierry Mugler. |
| Earlier this month, Pistorius pleaded not guilty of murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder. | Earlier this month, Pistorius pleaded not guilty of murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder. |
| Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed his girlfriend following a domestic dispute. If convicted of murder he will almost certainly receive a life sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years in prison. | Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed his girlfriend following a domestic dispute. If convicted of murder he will almost certainly receive a life sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years in prison. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |