Pistorius’ Italian house claims in Sarie

Oscar Pistorius during his bail application at the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (February 20 2013). Picture: Herman Verwey/City Press

Oscar Pistorius told Sarie magazine he owned a house in Italy, contrary to his lawyer’s denial, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel has told the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court during the athlete’s bail application.

Nel said the investigating officer, Warrant-Officer Hilton Botha, called him and asked him if he had read the magazine.

“What do we do about that Mr Roux?” Nel asked Pistorius’ counsel Barry Roux.

Roux insisted Pistorius did not own a house, and said: “He knows about perjury.”

Nel pressed on, reading from the glossy Afrikaans women’s magazine, in support of the state’s opposition to bail on the grounds he was a flight risk.

He said a mayor had given the house to Pistorius, who practised in Italy for four months a year. The mayor had offered to build him a place after he made a speech there in 2010.

- Sapa