Oscar Pistorius has gone into hiding since he shot and killed his girlfriend, model and law school graduate Reeva Steenkamp. He now lives with his uncle in Pretoria, South Africa, and would be unrecognizable to anyone who knew him before the tragic incident.
Pistorius’ uncle, Arnold, says his nephew is inconsolable and has surrounded himself with photos of Reeva; while the state prosecutors want to try him for murder, the Olympian claims it was a horrible accident. The trial won’t begin until at least early next year.
“What can you say if the person you love the most dies, and you were the instrument? How would you feel? It’s unthinkable,” Arnold Pistorius said. “He’s got photos in his room, photos all over the place. He’s housebound, you know. He doesn’t go out in public places.”
Pistorius was charged with Steenkamp’s murder after he shot her in the early morning hours on Valentine’s Day. He says he heard noises in the bathroom and thought it was an intruder and, after retrieving his gun, shot through the bathroom door. The double-amputee claims he thought Steenkamp was still in bed and that it was dark in the bedroom.
However, officials say that Steenkamp suffered wounds on her arms that looked defensive, and stories began floating around the web that it might have been a domestic violence dispute that led to the shooting. As attorneys prepare for the trial, a staggering amount of evidence will have to be examined. Pistorius faces another court hearing next Tuesday.