City Press understands that OPs financial situation is so dire that Advocates Barry Roux and Kenny Oldwage, and attorney Brian Webber have been representing him free of charge for at least the past two months.
A source close to the Pistorius family said his legal bill now stands at R17.5 million ($US 1,598,443) and about R10 million ($US 913,705) is still outstanding.
So are we to infer from this that OP himself has paid R7 million ($$US 639,634)?
OP, who was estimated to earn approx. R20 million ($US 1,827,527) a year before the London Olympics, now has no more money, so the bill has been sent to Uncle Arnold. A source close to the legal team says Arnold Pistorius has refused to cover the outstanding amount, believing his nephew should be responsible for the bill.
Unless Arnold has given a written undertaking to pay, I dont understand how anyone could be looking to him for payment.
Fair enough, if the family doesnt want to pay it, thats just fine. If that's the case, then I hope they dont expect the legal team to work pro bono in the event of an appeal. It cuts both ways. If Roux et al have been working on the case pro bono for the last two months, Arnold would know it because Brian Webber would have discussed it with Roux and the result of that discussion passed on to OP and Arnold.
City Press understands there was tension between Roux and Arnold Pistorius, who tried to influence the direction of the case but was told to butt out. A source close to the legal team said his opinion was not welcome, given his refusal to settle outstanding fees".
What I found so gross is that Arnold tried to influence the direction of the case. Just who does he think he is. He is not the client. It is not his decision to make as to how Roux chooses to run it. Thats a matter strictly for OP, Roux, Oldwage and Webber to decide. If OP had been diagnosed with a mental problem that precluded him from making decisions, that would be different, but that is not the case. Arnold thinks he can always run the show, both inside and outside the courtroom. Not this time Buster.
I believe that a lot of whats happened with this trial and the vitriol directed at OP and the family in particular can firmly be laid at the foot of Arnold himself. As you sow, so shall you reap.
http://www.citypress.co.za/news/oscars-r17-5million-legal-headache/