Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympics athlete who is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has reportedly found a buyer for his Pretoria home where he allegedly shot her dead.
We have accepted one of the bids and the transfer process is now underway," broker Ansie Louw told Bloomberg. However, she declined to reveal how much was offered for the house.
Located in the gated area of Silver Woods Country Estate, the residence has been valued at $481,000. It was put up for sale as Pistorius' legal fees kept surging. The "Blade Runner" has reportedly hired the best lawyers with each getting paid approximately $9,121 a day, reports The Telegraph.
"It is important to note that Mr. Pistorius has been funding his own defence (sic) from the outset. Due to the delay in finalising (sic) the trial, the decision to urgently dispose of his single biggest asset had to be made," a statement on Pistorius read when the home was going up for sale last year. The statement also said that Pistorius "cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again." Pistorius has been living with his uncle since the incident.
Initially, agents didn't want to represent the house. One realtor told ENCA.com:
"I wouldn't want to market that house. It just has bad karma attached to it now and it will be an incredibly difficult sell."
However, Ansie Louw took up the challenge. Talking to Daily Mail about the difficulties of selling the home, she said:
"We were not allowed to take photos or put it onto our website. If they do open it they attract lots of people just interested in the case and it will be chaos."
The home has remained sealed since the incident. Interior scenes of the home have been featured in the trial several times. Steenkamp, a law graduate and model, was found dead in the master bath toilet on Valentine's Day last year. She was shot several times in the hip, arm and one bullet tore through her head.
Pistorius claims he shot her accidentally mistaking her for an intruder. However, the prosecutors believe otherwise.
News of the home entering into contract comes as the trial enters its final week. The defense team is set to conclude its case by Friday. The court recently heard May 9th from Tom Wolmarans, defense ballistics expert, that it was impossible to ascertain how Steenkamp fell when she was shot, reports The Guardian. The trial continues.
