Day 35 of the murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius focused on his relationship with girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Peet van Zyl, Pistorius manager, testified before a jury in High Court in Pretoria and spoke highly of the athlete. He described Pistorius as a global icon after participating in the 2012 London Olympics. Moreover, the manager talked about the life Pistorius lived before the trial and what the athlete missed since Steenkamp's death.

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Van Zyl emphasized that Pistorius and Steenkamp shared a "loving and caring relationship," noting that the athlete had even planned on making his model girlfriend a part of his life in blades by introducing her to his world.

The sprinter's manager recalled how Pistorius was planning to take the model to his competition in Brazil and Mexico and to take her on a trip to watch a performance by Andrea Bocelli before news of the death shook the world.

Pistorius's manager insisted he never saw the Pistorius this way before meeting Steenkamp.

"For me it was a first. He had never asked me for anything like this," Van Zyl was quoted as telling the Pretoria Court by Yahoo Sports. "I then put the question to Mr. Pistorius, 'Why do you want this?' and his reply to me was, 'I actually want Ms. Steenkamp to see what my world is about, the pressure that I'm under, how I need to perform.'"

Looking back to his client's status in the sports world, Van Zyl noted that becoming a global icon after the London Olympics has had "substantial financial implications," noting that his income has increased tremendously with endorsements estimated at $2 million a year.

However, that was not the only aspect in his success that Pistorius had enjoyed and later missed after being implicated in the murder of his girlfriend.

Yahoo Sports suggested that Pistorius have a life of luxury - - fast cars, rubbing elbows with rock stars, fringe benefits such as Intercontinental business class flights with Steenkamp in his arms and lucrative corporate endorsement deals.

Among Pistorius's top sponsors were have been Össur, BT, Nike, Oakley and Thierry Mugler. Oakley and Nike had already announced withdrawing their deal with the troubled athlete as he got embroiled in a murder case.

The murder trial against Pistorius began on March 3, 2014 after the blade runner being accused of killing his girlfriend on the eve of Valentine's Day in 2014.

Records show that Pistorius had mistaken Steenkamp as an intruder who was trying to get inside the house through the bathroom window, shooting her with the bathroom door closed.

If found guilty of the murder charges, Pistorius will face 15 years of imprisonment.  

TagsOscar Pistorius, Murder Trial, Paralympian Runner