Carl Pistorius charged over woman's death as police find 'sex stimulant' in Blade Runner's home
Date February 25, 2013 - 6:20AM
The older brother of South African star athlete Oscar Pistorius, himself accused of murdering his girlfriend, has been charged with culpable homicide over a car accident in 2010, local media report.
Carl Pistorius, 28, allegedly killed a female motorcyclist while driving outside Johannesburg, the eNews Africa television channel reported, citing his lawyer Kenny Oldwage.
This is not an anabolic steroid and it is unlikely it will lead to irrational anger.
His trial had been due to start last Thursday, a day before his famous brother, an Olympic and Paralympic hero, was granted bail on a charge of premeditated murder over the Valentine's Day killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Home visit ... Carl Pistorius arrives at the house where his brother Oscar has been staying since being released on bail. Photo: AP
But Carl Pistorius' trial was pushed back a month, although the specific date is not known.
He had no alcohol in his blood at the time of the accident, according to tests then, the television channel reported.
‘‘There is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court,’’ Pistorius family lawyer Kenny Oldwage said in a statement on Sunday.
Free on bail ... Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius leaves police custody on Friday, supported by his sister Aimee. Photo: AP
‘‘Carl deeply regrets the accident. Blood tests conducted by the police at the time proved that he had not been under the influence of alcohol, confirming that it was a tragic road accident after the deceased collided with Carl’s car.’’
Oscar Pistorius, the 26-year-old double amputee athlete known as "Blade Runner", was released on one million rand ($A110,656) bail on Friday.
He is due back in court on June 4.
He says the shooting of his 29-year-old girlfriend, a law graduate and cover girl who he had been dating since late last year, was an accident and that he mistook her for a burglar.
Carl Pistorius was a constant presence in court last week to support his brother during the four-day bail hearing in Pretoria, along with his sister Aimee and father Henke.
When Oscar broke down crying in the dock, Carl would lean forward and put his hand on his brother's shoulder.
Relatives of the slain model have lashed out at the Pistorius family, with her uncle Michael criticising them for failing to contact the Steenkamp family after the shooting.
"They have not offered their condolences, nor made a simple phone call to us," he told the City Press newspaper on Sunday, although the Pistorius family did send a bouquet of flowers and a card.
Meanwhile, City Press said a substance found in Pistorius' luxury Pretoria home during a police search was a herbal sexual stimulant that can be sold without prescription.
The prosecution had said during Pistorius' bail hearing that police had found two boxes of "testosterone" and needles in his Pretoria home, but the defence countered that it was a legal herbal remedy known as testocompasutium coenzyme.
City Press said the remedy was a combination of vitamins, herbal cures partly derived from animal organs.
Sports physician Jon Patricios told the paper the product is used to boost sexual energy, but that athletes are not advised to use it since it may increase their testosterone levels.
"This is not an anabolic steroid and it is unlikely it will lead to irrational anger," he said.
The National Prosecuting Authority has said it was awaiting the results of forensic tests to determine what the product is.
The International Paralympic Committee said the athlete - who became a hero as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics last year - was tested twice during the London Paralympics in 2012 and tested negative.
South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper also said a new investigation team had visited Pistorius' house on Friday and would investigate his apparent links with a network that used recreational drugs.
AFP and theage
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