Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who took the witness stand in his defence for the first time, has revealed in the North Gauteng High Court that he spent almost his entire life fearful of attack.
Pistorius, the first double amputee runner to compete against able bodied athletes at the Olympic Games, is accused of the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
According to News.com.au, Pistorius testified that he had suffered a deep fear of attack ever since his childhood when his mother would sleep with a loaded pistol under her pillow with their father regularly away, adding that he and his siblings would often be called into their mother’s room after she had heard noises and rung the police.
Stating that their family home had been broken into on more than one occasion, Pistorius also said that he had been burgled and robbed in 2005 and recalled coming to the aid of a cab driver who had been dragged from his taxi and badly beaten by three men, adding that he had also once been attacked at a party.
Pistorius also said that on another occasion, he was followed home by two men in a car who sped off only after he had brandished his pistol.
Asked why had not reported the incidents to police, Pistorius said he believed they would be considered minor and not investigated. (ANI)