Pretoria - Oscar Pistorius has been described as a caring person who was willing to assist a young disabled child who lived thousands of miles away from him. He has also asked to become involved in outreach programs with his church.
This was revealed during the second day of defence argument in his sentencing proceedings for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius was convicted of murder in December last year after the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned his culpable homicide conviction for shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, by firing four bullets through a closed bathroom door at the athlete's Pretoria East home.
This week, the State and defence will argue in aggravation and mitigation for Judge Thokozile Masipa to determine the athlete's possible sentence.
On Tuesday morning, the defence called its second witness, Ebba Gudmunsdottir, to try and prove substantial and compelling reasons for why Judge Masipa should deviate from the minimum 15-year sentence.
She was called to speak about Pistorius's abilities with children.
Travelling from Iceland, Gudmunsdottir spoke of how her own child was born without legs. Having Googled Pistorius and seeing his achievements as a disabled person, the family wrote to him to thank him.
A friendship formed between the Gudmunsdottir family and the then 19-year-old Pistorius, who travelled to Iceland to visit them.
The young woman spoke of Pistorius's special interest in her children, and how he visited on multiple occasions to assist the family with the child's disability.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel chose not to ask any questions of Gudmunsdottir in cross-examination, except establishing that her son was now 11 years old.
The defence then called Marius Nel to the stand, the witness declining to be televised.
Nel said he was a pastor at PC Ministries, a community-based church in Centurion.
He said the church runs numerous outreach projects for the underprivileged, sometimes assisting the Department of Basic Education.
Nel said the church provided stationary packs, blankets and gifts to underprivileged learners throughout each year.
He said Pistorius was the member of the church, and the athlete had inquired about becoming involved in the church's charity work. Nel said he had spoken with various schools about accepting Pistorius as an athletics trainer and speaker.
He said the feedback from the schools was positive and Pistorius was excited about the opportunity.
Nel declined to name the schools pending the outcome of the current court proceedings.
The pastor said he visited Pistorius often during his incarceration, providing comfort and counselling. “I experienced Mr Pistorius as a man who was broken, who expressed his sorrow,” said Nel.
In his cross-examination, the prosecutor established that the pastor visited Pistorius on numerous occasions, but chose not to pursue any other lines of questioning.
It was then revealed that the State was planning to call Steenkamp's father Barry to the stand.
The Star