Oscar Pistorius family row over South Africa crime

The family of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murder, has distanced itself from his father's comments that guns are needed because of high crime levels.

Henke Pistorius told the UK's Telegraph newspaper that his son needed guns because of the government's failure to protect the white community.

The governing African National Congress (ANC) said his comments were racist.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

He says he mistook her for a burglar when he shot her dead on 14 February.

Ms Steenkamp died after he fired multiple shots into the toilet of his top floor apartment in a gated housing complex in Pretoria.

Oscar Pistorius was released on bail on 22 February and is due to appear in court again in June.

He is charged with the premeditated murder of Ms Steenkamp.

Reports say the Pistorius family owned 55 guns

BBC NEWS