Oscar Pistorius says he just wants to
"be alone" since his release on bail and is feeling "a lot of
remorse" over the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The Olympic athlete is staying at his uncle's home in Pretoria
after a court banned him from returning to the luxury home where he shot his
girlfriend through a bathroom door.
His spokeswoman: "He told me,
'I just want this time to be alone'. He is in his room, he's spending time
alone and he's feeling lot of remorse."
The athlete's family has also released a new statement, saying:
"Oscar will never be the same ... having to live with the knowledge that
he caused the death of the woman he loved, and that he can never undo the
immense pain and loss this has caused Reeva’s family and friends".
His uncle Arnold added: "We are acutely aware of the fact
that this is only the beginning of a long road to prove that, as we know, Oscar
never intended to harm Reeva, let alone cause her death."
Pistorius, 26, is accused of premeditated murder after the
Valentine's Day shooting. He denies murder.
Lawyers for the defence and prosecution are starting work on the
trial phase of a case that is likely to grip South Africa and the world, with
the next hearing set for June 4.
The athlete arrived at his uncle's house on Friday after paying
10% of his one million rand (£73,000) bail at the city's Brooklyn police
station, where he had been held for a week.
Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp's father has told a South African
newspaper that Pistorius will "suffer" if he is lying about how his
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp died.
The Beeld newspaper quotes Barry Steenkamp as saying Pistorius
will have to "live with his conscience" if his assertion that he
accidentally shot the 29-year-old law graduate is false.
Horse trainer Mr Steenkamp said he might be able to forgive
Pistorius one day if the double-amputee Olympian is telling the truth.
Chief magistrate Desmond Nair approved bail for Pistorius on
Friday at the end of a two-hour summary in which he found the accused was
unlikely to skip bail, be violent or approach any witnesses.
Nair said he had been influenced by Pistorius' decision to
submit a detailed affidavit, in which he claimed he accidentally shot Ms
Steenkamp through the bathroom door at his home in the east of Pretoria,
thinking she was an intruder.
Under his bail conditions Pistorius must surrender any firearms
and his passport and can not enter any international departure hall.
He
is also is banned from using any prohibited substance or alcohol and must
report to police twice a week as part of his bail conditions.
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