Oscar Pistorius plans to sell house where he killed his girlfriend.

Oscar Pistorius plans to sell his Pretoria home "to raise the necessary funds to cover his increasing legal costs," a statement on his website said today.

The house is where Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in February 2013. Pistorius hasn't returned since her death, according to the statement.

The statement, issued by his media representatives, said the sale of his home was forced by an unexpected extension of the trial from the three weeks initially scheduled.

"It is important to note that 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," it said.

The house has been kept sealed since it was handed back to Pistorius over a year ago, and the athlete "cannot contemplate ever returning to live there again," it said.

Some of Pistorius' neighbors on the estate have been key witnesses in his trial.


The property, in the luxury Silverwoods Estate on the outskirts of Pretoria, was listed in an affidavit filed by Pistorius last February, only days after Steenkamp's death, as being worth 5 million Rand. That's around $465,000 at current exchange rates.

Pistorius also listed ownership of three other South African properties of lesser value in the affidavit, as well as cash investments, "household furniture and effects, motor vehicles and jewelery."


His occupational income on the affidavit was listed as about 5.6 million Rand a year. However, he has not competed professionally as an athlete since he was charged with Steenkamp's murder.