Oscar selling R5m Pretoria house of tragedy to pay legal costs
Oscar Pistorius’s property in the gated Silverwoods estate in Pretoria is worth R5 million. But who would be willing to live in the home where Reeva Steenkamp died?
Oscar Pistorius is planning to sell the house in which he killed Reeva Steenkamp “to raise the necessary funds to cover his increasing legal costs,” a statement on his website said on Thursday. The six-time Paralympic gold medallist is rumoured to be paying his attorney Barry Roux R50,000 (£3,500) a day.
The property is located in the gated Silverwoods estate on the outskirts of the capital and is worth R5 million. During the trial, the court has seen dozens of photographs of bloodstains throughout the house following the shooting.
“It is important to note that Mr Pistorius has been funding his own defence from the outset. Due to the delay in finalising the trial, the decision to urgently dispose of his single biggest asset has had to be made,” said the statement, which also revealed that Pistorius “cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again.”
The delays in the trial – which was only expected to last for three weeks but already looks like it will take significantly longer – mean that Pistorius has found himself with no option but to put the property on the market despite having already sold a prize racehorse to cover the fees for his defence. The house was handed back to Pistorius over a year ago but has remained sealed ever since while has been living with his uncle.
