Oscar Pistorius denies ‘partying it up’ while awaiting trial

Olympian Oscar Pistorius was seen “partying it up” at a Johannesburg restaurant last weekend, according to South Africa’s Sunday Times. The paper quotes witnesses who spotted he double-amputee sprinter knocking back shots and flirting with women.

Many people said that’s not the way someone awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his girlfriend should behave.

“He was greeting a couple and then gave the woman a little pat on her backside. It was just so inappropriate,” the woman told the Sunday Times.

Another woman said: “He was drinking shooters and he was flirtatious. He didn’t seem like someone [who had] lost the love of his life.”

A third witness added: “He’s the last person we expected to see. I can’t believe he showed his face in public, carrying on as if nothing’s happened.”

Pistorius is out on bail and awaiting his June 4 trial for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day. He has said the shooting was an accident, while prosecutors contend he intentionally killed her after an argument.

The party was said to be Pistorius’ first outing with friends since the incident. His spokeswoman, Anneliese Burgess, said the one-time national hero has been attempting to start interacting with people again after months of isolation.

Burgess said Pistorious did go out with friends that night but he “strenuously and vigorously” denies any inappropriate behavior, including flirting with women and drinking shooters.

She added that the sprinter known as the “Blade Runner” left the restaurant when “public interest became overwhelming.” He tried going to another bar nearby, Burgess said, but quickly “left for the same reason.”

“It is regrettable that what was supposed to be a low-key evening reconnecting with friends is now being blown out of proportion for sensational reasons,” Burgess said.

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