The family of Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was rocked again on Sunday, Feb 24, when it was revealed that the athlete's brother has been charged with culpable homicide, The Guardian reports.

Carl Pistorius, a near-constant presence at his younger sibling's bail hearing, appeared before a judge himself last week.

The charge relates to the road death of a female motorcyclist in 2008. Carl denies causing the accident or being under the influence of alcohol.

A Pistorius family statement said Carl appeared before a judge last Thursday and would be in court again in late March. He declined to comment on Sunday as he entered the home of his uncle Arnold in Waterkloof, an affluent suburb of Pretoria.

Kenny Oldwage, the brothers' lawyer, said Carl had been involved in a car accident "in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life".

"There is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court. Carl deeply regrets the accident."

He added: "Blood tests conducted by the police at the time proved that he had not been under the influence of alcohol, confirming that it was a tragic road accident after the deceased collided with Carl's car."

The family said the charge against Carl had at one stage been withdrawn but has been reinstated five years after the incident.