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Oscar Pistorius may write a book - report

Johannesburg - Oscar Pistorius may write a book about what happened on the night he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and his experiences while standing trial for her murder, according to a British newspaper report.

The Observer quoted Pistorius's manager and agent, Peet van Zyl, as saying the athlete intends to put his side of the story on paper.

According to the newspaper, the book could be a bestseller, which would prove highly lucrative for Pistorius as he faces major legal costs following his lengthy trial. But it could also lead to accusations that he is cashing in on Steenkamp's death.

Pistorius was found not guilty of premeditated murder, but guilty of culpable homicide last week. Sentencing proceedings will start on 13 October.

The Observer reported that Van Zyl and Pistorius had already discussed ideas and concepts for the book, but would wait until Pistorius is sentenced before making a final decision.

Denial

However, The Star on Monday quoted Van Zyl as saying his comments were taken out of context, and there are no firm plans for a book for now. He said a book was something they could look into in the future, but not at present.

A media lawyer told The Star that if Pistorius is sentenced to prison, the Correctional Services Act stipulates that he would not be allowed to profit from the offence while he is serving his sentence.

Pistorius published an autobiography, Blade Runner, five years ago.

There are at least six other books relating to Pistorius and Steenkamp in the pipeline, including one by journalists Barry Bateman and Mandy Wiener, according to The Observer. The mother of Pistorius's ex-girlfriend, Samantha Taylor, has published a book detailing Taylor's relationship with the athlete.

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