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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

BBC under fire after Oscar Pistorius interview included in London 2012 Olympics replay

The BBC is facing huge criticism for including footage of convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius in their re-run of past Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2015, the former South African sprinter was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp two years earlier.

The six-time gold medal winner - who had both his feet amputated when he was 11 months old due to a congenital defect - shot and killed Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria.

The Tokyo Olympics Games scheduled for this summer have been postponed until next year, prompting the BBC to show highlights and from previous Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On Saturday, one package included an interview with Pistorius from the 2012 Paralympics.

At the London games, Pistorius won two gold medals and one silver medal - though the 33-year-old achievements on the track have been all-but forgotten in light of his heinous crime.

And viewers were enraged that he featured in the BBC's re-run of the Games, taking to Twitter to voice their criticisms.

Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (AFP/Getty Images)

One wrote: "@BBC #OlympicsRewind Why are you showing Oscar Pistorius on your Olympic Rewind programme?

"Man's a murdering b******, absolute disgrace to show him on such an amazing programme, why are we glorifying someone who took the life of an innocent human being?"

Another added: "Disgusting of the BBC to put Pistorius (inc interview) in the Super Saturday replay just now on BBC1. Wrong on so many levels."

Pistorius won two gold medals and a silver medal at London 2012 (PA)

One Twitter user voiced their concerns about Pistorius' achievements being celebrated, saying: "Bad taste by @BBCOne showing Oscar Pistorius on Super Saturday highlights from #London2012 not great to celebrate a murderer."

And one social media user simply put: "Maybe should’ve cut out the Pistorius clips out all things considered?"

In 2017, Pistorius' prison sentence was more than doubled to 13 years after a state appeal for a longer term following his initial six-year sentence.

He will not be eligible for parole until 2023.

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