Pistorius bought, collected guns in Olympic year
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Even if Oscar Pistorius is acquitted of murder, firearms and legal experts in South Africa believe that, by his own account, the star violated basic gun-handling regulations by shooting into a closed door without knowing who was behind it, exposing himself to the lesser but still serious charge of culpable homicide. Associated Press/Feb. 22, 2013 |
JOHANNESBURG — An official at a South African gun collectors' club where Oscar Pistorius was a member says he steadily became an avid collector of firearms in his Olympic year. He says Pistorius bought a collection of pistols and shotguns, all American manufactured, his favorite.
John Beare, vice chairman of the Lowveld Firearm Collectors Association, told The Associated Press that Pistorius also purchased a semiautomatic rifle for his expanding collection at the end of 2012.
That coincided with the early stages of Pistorius' romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he shot and killed at his home in the early hours of Feb. 14.
Prosecutors have charged Pistorius with premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp with three of four shots fired from his 9 mm pistol. Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.
