News / Africa

Oscar Pistorius' Brother Faces Murder Trial

Carl Pistorius, brother of Oscar, attends his brother's court appearance in Pretoria February 15, 2013.
Carl Pistorius, brother of Oscar, attends his brother's court appearance in Pretoria February 15, 2013.
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VOA News
The older brother of South African track star Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend, is also facing trial for killing a woman in a car accident some five years ago.

Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide after allegedly killing a motorcyclist in a 2008 accident outside of Johannesburg.

A local South African news station reported Sunday that Carl Pistorius appeared in court last Thursday, but his trial was delayed until March.

Lawyer Kenny Oldwage said in a statement Sunday that "Carl deeply regrets the accident". He said blood tests conducted by the police at the time proved that he had not been under the influence of alcohol.

Oldwage added that charges brought after the accident were initially dropped, but then reinstated by national prosecutors.

Carl Pistorius has been a constant presence at the court during his younger brother's bail hearing last week.

Oscar Pistorius is accused in the February 14 shooting death his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, who is known as the "blade runner" for his high-tech artificial legs, says he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for a burglar.  Prosecutors accused him of premeditated murder.

He was released on bail on Friday.

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