A top South African journalist has accused Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius of taking acting lessons before standing trial for the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in an open letter.
Jani Allan, who made the accusations, was a household name in South Africa in late 1980s and named the 'most admired person in South Africa' for her work as a broadcaster, columnist and animal rights campaigner.
According to the Mirror, in an open letter to the Blade Runner, Allan claimed that she has information from a 'reliable source' that a famous actor friend of Pistorius coached the athlete for his testimony in court, although she added that the 'coach' has an impossible task as Pistorius is the latest in a 'long line of faux heroes'.
Stating that Pistorius betrayed his people and has disappointed his fans, Allan further compared Pistorius to Eugene Terre'Blanche - the murdered far-right white supremacist leader jailed for three years for attempted murder of a black guard, saying that both are 'cut from the same cloth'.
The letter to the double London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medal winner continued to slam Pistorius, further saying that the sprinter represented everything the West loathes about white South Africans who live extravagant lives in expensive houses, adding his statement about intruders 'opens yet another can of haricots'.
Pistorius admitted shooting Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year but denies premeditated murder and two counts related to shooting a gun in public, and the report added that the trial would resume on May 5.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
