Pistorius home sold to pay costs

Model Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius has sold the luxury Pretoria house where he killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on St Valentine's Day last year.

The four-bedroom home in the Silver Woods Estate sold for 4.5 million Rand ($495,233), far less than he was asking.

Pistorius tried to sell the house in 2011 for 6.4 million Rand but withdrew it from the market when there were no buyers. He testified at his bail hearing that the house was worth 5 million Rand.

Pistorius' lawyers earlier this year said he wanted to sell the house to cover legal fees for his murder trial.

The house was bought by mining consultant Louwtjie Lourens who told South Africa's Times newspaper he planned to live in the house with his family when he retired, but would initially rent it out.

Final arguments in Pistorius' trial will be heard next week and Judge Thokozile Masipa will then indicate when she will hand down a verdict.

The prosecutor's office has said it has filed its final arguments with the court and Pistorius' lawyers have until tomorrow to file their final arguments in writing.

During the trial the legless athlete has claimed he was acting in self-defence when he fired four shots through the closed bathroom door, believing an intruder was inside. Prosecutors have argued Pistorius intentionally fired at Steenkamp who was hiding behind the door.