Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius spent Saturday night behind bars for allegedly assaulting a woman who had attended a gathering at his Silverlakes house, Bronkhorspruit police said on Sunday.

The 22-year-old was arrested on Saturday night after the 19-year-old woman opened an assault case against him, said Sergeant
Marinda Stoltz. “The woman was allegedly fighting with her boyfriend during a small gathering at Mr Pistorius’s house on Saturday afternoon. Mr Pistorius told them to go outside,” said Stoltz.

She said Pistorius’ friend returned to the house alone, prompting the woman to start kicking the doors. “It was while she was kicking the doors that Pistorius allegedly opened the door and told her to leave his house. When he closed the door on her, one of the door panels allegedly hit her on the leg … she sustained bruises,” said Stoltz.

The woman, who is also a resident of Silverlakes, then went to the Boschkop police station to report an assault case. Pistorius was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but the charge was changed to common assault on Sunday morning, said Stoltz.

She said Pistorius was released with a warning to appear in court. “The case is still in a sensitive stage so we can’t give out more information at this stage,” she said. — Sapa

Picture credit: Elvar Freyr