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Oscar Pistorius selling home to foot legal costs

Oscar Pistorius is selling his luxury Pretoria home to foot the legal costs of his murder trial.

Oscar Pistorius is selling the luxury Pretoria home where he shot and killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp to foot the legal expenses of his murder trial.

The South African has been forced to offload the property in the Silver Woods estate because the legal process is taking longer than anticipated, Reuters reports.

"It has become necessary to sell Mr Pistorius's home in the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria in order for him to raise the necessary funds to cover his increasing legal costs," said Brian Webber, the lawyer handling the sale.

"Mr Pistorius has been funding his own defence from the outset. Due to the delay in finalising the trial, the decision to urgently dispose of his single biggest asset, has had to be made."

The property was handed back to Pistorius more than a year ago, and although it is being kept sealed until after the trial, the Paralympian "cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again".

The 27-year-old is accused of murdering South African model Steenkamp by firing gunshots through a bathroom door in his home on Valentine's Day last year.

Pistorius denies murder by claiming that he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar when he fired the gunshots.

The trial has been adjourned until Monday.

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Oscar Pistorius appearing at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria on February 22, 2013
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