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Oscar Pistorius in row at Johannesburg club | Oscar Pistorius in row at Johannesburg club |
(35 minutes later) | |
South African athlete and murder accused Oscar Pistorius was involved in an argument at a nightclub at the weekend, his spokesperson has said. | South African athlete and murder accused Oscar Pistorius was involved in an argument at a nightclub at the weekend, his spokesperson has said. |
Mr Pistorius had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer who said he was drunk, The Star newspaper says. | Mr Pistorius had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer who said he was drunk, The Star newspaper says. |
Mr Pistorius' spokesperson said the argument took place after Mr Mortimer started to "aggressively interrogate" him about his murder trial. | Mr Pistorius' spokesperson said the argument took place after Mr Mortimer started to "aggressively interrogate" him about his murder trial. |
Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. | Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. |
He says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her dead after an argument. | He says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her dead after an argument. |
Ms Steenkamp was killed at Mr Pistorius' home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February 2013. | Ms Steenkamp was killed at Mr Pistorius' home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February 2013. |
'Bouncers intervene' | 'Bouncers intervene' |
Mr Mortimer said he got involved in a row with Mr Pistorius at the nightclub in Johannesburg's upmarket suburb of Sandton, after the athlete insulted his friends and South African President Jacob Zuma's family, The Star reports. | Mr Mortimer said he got involved in a row with Mr Pistorius at the nightclub in Johannesburg's upmarket suburb of Sandton, after the athlete insulted his friends and South African President Jacob Zuma's family, The Star reports. |
"I took that personally because I am very good friends with a member of the Zuma family," Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying. | "I took that personally because I am very good friends with a member of the Zuma family," Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying. |
Mr Mortimer said the Olympic sprinter was intoxicated and started to poke him in the chest while they were talking. | Mr Mortimer said the Olympic sprinter was intoxicated and started to poke him in the chest while they were talking. |
The businessman said he then pushed Mr Pistorius away from him and the athlete fell over a chair. | The businessman said he then pushed Mr Pistorius away from him and the athlete fell over a chair. |
The club's bouncers helped Mr Pistorius up, but were asked to remove him after he "had a confrontation with another man", Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying. | The club's bouncers helped Mr Pistorius up, but were asked to remove him after he "had a confrontation with another man", Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying. |
Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for Mr Pistorius' family, disputed Mr Mortimer's version of events. | Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for Mr Pistorius' family, disputed Mr Mortimer's version of events. |
Mr Pistorius was in the VIP section of the club when he was approached by a man who had since been identified as Mr Mortimer, she said. | Mr Pistorius was in the VIP section of the club when he was approached by a man who had since been identified as Mr Mortimer, she said. |
"The individual, according to my client, started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial," said Ms Burgess. | "The individual, according to my client, started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial," said Ms Burgess. |
She added that Mr Pistorius "regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention". | |
On Sunday, hours after the incident, the Olympic sprinter tweeted for the first time since the death of Ms Steenkamp. | |
He tweeted a Bible verse, a collage of pictures of his humanitarian work, and an extract from Viktor Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning". | |
The Olympic sprinter's murder trial was adjourned last week for closing arguments on 7 August. | The Olympic sprinter's murder trial was adjourned last week for closing arguments on 7 August. |
If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. |
If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison. | If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison. |