Killer in courtroom spooks Pistorius camp

17 October 2014 - 02:31 By Graeme Hosken
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RINGSIDE SEATS: Hard man Mikey Schultz, centre, and businessman Jared Mortimer outside the Pretoria High Court yesterday, where they watched the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius from the front row of the public gallery
RINGSIDE SEATS: Hard man Mikey Schultz, centre, and businessman Jared Mortimer outside the Pretoria High Court yesterday, where they watched the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius from the front row of the public gallery
Image: ALON SKUY

Alleged strong-arm tactics, a hitman, tears and calls for police intervention brought chaos to the Pretoria High Court as Oscar Pistorius's sentencing adjourned yesterday.

The chaos follows a noticeable increase this week in the number of policemen in the courtroom. Four tactical response team officers mounted a constant guard on Judge Thokozile Masipa.

For three days the presence of admitted Brett Kebble killer Mikey Schultz has been felt.

Said to be in court to support the family of Pistorius's dead girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, Schultz - accompanied by businessman Jared Mortimer and former soccer star Mark Batchelor - has left the Pistorius camp feeling very uncomfortable.

Schultz and those with him occupied seats in the front row of the public gallery, past which Pistorius had to walk to get to the dock.

Matters came to a head yesterday when Schultz allegedly threatened Pistorius's sister, Aimee, causing her to burst into tears.

Pistorius's brother, Carl, told journalists that Schultz had sworn at his sister telling her "F*** you", a claim Schultz has denied.

Schultz said outside the court that the "Pistorius family are the victims, always the victims.

"And clearly the Pistorius family are a bunch of liars, just like Oscar."

Pistorius spokesman Anne-liese Burgess said the family would not comment.

A representative of the Justice Department was not available to give comment yesterday.

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