Carl Pistorius, the older brother of South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court on
By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News
The brother of Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was acquitted on Tuesday of the unlawful killing of a motorcyclist in a traffic accident. Oscar Pistorius is currently facing a murder charge after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home near Pretoria on Valentine’s Day. He says he mistook her for an intruder while she was in a bathroom.
His brother Carl Pistorius was facing a charge of “culpable homicide” – unlawful, negligent killing -- over the death of Maria Barnard in 2008.
However, he was acquitted at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation and other media reported. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Medupe Simasiku said that prosecutors had failed to prove the case against him, SABC reported. "We are satisfied with the end of it all. We are delighted," Carl Pistorius’ lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, told the station.
South Africa’s Times newspaper reported that Pistorius’ “bakkie” or truck had collided with Barnard’s motorcycle on March 8, 2008, and she had died a few days later.
The paper said Pistorius was also cleared of charges of reckless or negligent driving, and driving without reasonable consideration for another person using the road.
Oscar Pistorius was granted bail of a million rand ($108,000) in March, pending his trial over the Steenkamp’s death.
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