Oscar Pistorius accused of taking acting lessons to help convince judge of his innocence

Allegations: South African journalist Jani Allan has claimed Oscar Pistorius is taking acting lessons from one of her 'close friends'

Oscar Pistorius has been accused of taking acting lessons before standing trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

 

A South African journalist wrote an open letter to the blade runner alleging he had taken guidance from one of her 'close friends' before taking the stand in Pretoria.

 

British-born columnist Jani Allan has called the paralympian a 'faux hero' who has 'betrayed people and disappointed his fans.'

 

Condemned: She has called him a 'faux hero' and says his coach has an 'impossible task'

   

 

Her letter reads: 'I have it from a reliable source that you are taking acting lessons for your days in court. Your coach has an impossible task.'

'Oscar, I look at you mewling and puking in the witness stand. You truly represent everything that the West loathes about white South Africans who live extravagant lives in their expensive laagers.'

 

Asked about her letter, she told The Sunday People: 'I have this information from extremely reliable sources.'

 

She also compares Pistorius to Eugene Terre'Blanche, who served three years in prison for assaulting a petrol station attendant and for the attempted murder of a black security guard around 1996.

 

She said of him: 'Terre’blanche was cut from the same cloth as you, Oscar.

 

'He was given to boasting, vain in all things, narcissistic in the extreme and flying into terrible rages when things didn’t go his way. I suspect this description fits you.'

 

The Paralympic superstar has frequently wept and been sick during the more difficult moments of his trial.

 

Reeva's mother June Steenkamp has also accused the South African of acting out, referring to moments he has wept uncontrollable while sitting in the dock.

 

In the early stages of his trial Dr Denise Bjerkman analysed his body language.  

 

 

Pistorius accused of inventing discussions between him and Reeva

 

 

 

Curious: The claims came just weeks after Reeva's mother accused the paralympian of acting

  

She said: 'Oscar has to project a complex image of innocence and grief to the mass media and court.

'His squeaky clean image comes natural to him with his short hair, relaxed wide-eyed response in social interaction and charming smile.

 

'What Oscar has to juggle in court is his three public personas: the boyish wonder he stage-managed for the global media – who will challenge any obstacle and which refutes his disability; the humble, controlled, grieving Oscar for public consumption in the courts and the suave flash Harry, fast cars, gung-ho image of Oscar with adoring women draped on his arm.

 

'His dramatic, tearful breakdown in court - when the brutal wounds on Reeva’s Steenkamp’s body were discussed - is more likely to be conveniently staged.

I believe such behaviour serves to hide his feelings of sickening guilt and vulnerability.'

 

Pistorius admits shooting 29-year-old Reeva on Valentine's Day last year but denies premeditated murder and two counts related to shooting a gun.

 

The trail continues on May 5.

 

Acting? On many occasions throughout the trial he has been seen cowering in the dock with heads in his hand                       

 

 

 

Distracted: The paralympian has even been caught looking at his phone during court proceedings

 

 

 

 

Allegations: Pistorius has admitted to shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valetines Day last year but denies premeditated murder