South African athlete Pistorius in night club altercation
(Reuters) - South African Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius was involved in an argument at a night club over the weekend, local media reported on Tuesday, days after his lawyers wrapped up their defense in his murder trial.
The Star newspaper said Pistorius had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer at a club in Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton business district, reportedly after the athlete made disparaging comments about Mortimer's friends.
Pistorius' family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said the argument started after Mortimer started to "aggressively interrogate" Pistorius about the murder trial, which has attracted huge domestic and international attention.
"Our client regrets the decision to go into a public place and thereby invite unwelcome attention," she said in a statement.
The 27-year-old, known as "Blade Runner" because of the carbon-fiber prosthetic running legs he uses, is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot and killed at his luxury Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.
Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder hiding in the toilet next to his bedroom. The state accuses him of shooting her in cold blood after an argument.
The case was adjourned until Aug. 7 to allow the legal teams to prepare closing arguments. Judge Thokozile Masipa will then begin her deliberations, extending a trial that has already dragged on over four months.
(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
More from AOL and partners:
Habits of Americans who are 'thriving'
Deadly subway train derailment in Moscow
Google Maps may hold clue to solving crime
Part of name becoming obsolete?
9 hotel scams and hidden fees to watch for
States seeing massive surge in quake activity
Airport officials confiscate huge snail shipment
Cops fired for allegiance to a disturbing group
Wedding photo goes so wrong ... twice
Diaz not the only one to bare it all over 40
Final scenes shot for troubled 'Fast & Furious'
Mother 'kicked out' of Brad Paisley concert
Star was weeks away from being a quadriplegic
Pistorius in nightclub run-in over weekend
Memorial forNJ cop killer sparks outrage
