The family of Oscar Pistorius said Saturday that they won't be commenting during the high-profile murder trial that is set to begin Monday against the double-amputee Olympian — and is expected to draw an international frenzy of attention.
"The time for public commentary is over," the Pistorius family said in a statement penned by Arnold Pistorius, Oscar Pistorius' uncle, who has been housing Oscar during his time out on bail.
Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder for the Feb. 14, 2013, fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
In a case that is being compared to that of O.J. Simpson, the defense will argue that Pistorius mistook his girlfriend for an intruder, while prosecutors will insist he meant to kill her after the two argued.
"With less than two days before the commencement of Oscar's criminal trial, the family as well as the legal team, will not be distracted by extraneous issues that have no bearing on, or relevance to, the legal process that must now be allowed to unfold," the Pistorius family said in the statement.
Originally, the family set up a website to reply to inquiries and comment on developments in the case, but in Saturday's statement they said, "The focus is now entirely on a very serious trial that is set to start this Monday."
— Elisha Fieldstadt
