Gun comments split family of Oscar Pistorius

MURDER accused Oscar Pistorius has rejected comments by his father that South Africa's high crime rate necessitates gun ownership.

Oscar Pistorius

MURDER accused Oscar Pistorius has rejected comments by his father that South Africa's high crime rate necessitates gun ownership.

A spokesman for the athlete and his family said they were "deeply concerned" about the comments Henke Pistorius made to British newspaper The Telegraph.

Henke Pistorius said his family's 55 guns were for protection because of high crime levels against whites under the ANC government, the newspaper reported.

But family spokesman Arnold Pistorius said "the Pistorius family own weapons purely for sport and hunting purposes".

The comments did not represent the views of Oscar or the rest of the Pistorius family, he said.

Reeva Steenkamp Pistorius girlfriend

Prosecutors have charged the Paralympic and Olympic athlete with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius denies this, saying he shot Ms Steenkamp repeatedly through a locked bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder.

Several reports of the double amputee's fascination with guns have emerged since his arrest.

In January, Pistorius, a member of a firearm collectors' association, accidentally fired a friend's weapon at a Johannesburg restaurant.

The court heard he had licence applications for several firearms.

Henke Pistorius's interview had not been cleared with the family "media liaison team", said Arnold Pistorius.

The family were still mourning Ms Steenkamp's death, he said.

"For this reason and out of respect for the Steenkamp family, the Pistorius family will not grant any media interviews at this time."

using a gun at a firing range months before her death.