Oscar Pistorius is "battling" with his grief for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, his uncle said Sunday, while the athlete's family criticized the broadcasting of graphic images that purport to show the bloodied site of the fatal shooting on Valentine's Day.

The family made the criticism in a statement in response to Sky News on Friday showing images said to be the blood-stained bathroom and two days before the double-amputee runner is due in court for a hearing leading to his murder trial.

"We were shaken by the graphic images, leaked into the public domain this week, of the accident scene at Oscar's house," the family said, appearing to confirm they are from Pistorius' home.

"It has always been our plea that the legal process be allowed (to) run its course with integrity. The leaking of evidential material into the public domain before the court case does not advance this process."

Pistorius' uncle, Arnold Pistorius, later said that his nephew would be ready for trial, adding he had "no doubt in my mind that he's not a murderer."

"He's battling. But with the family behind him, his sister living in the same house as he lives, Aimee, they assist him a lot," Arnold Pistorius said in excerpts from an interview given to South African television show Carte Blanche on Sunday and released by the family. "And we are preparing him. He will definitely be ready. Being the mind that he is, being the man that he is, he will know what it's going to take to do this event.

"So I think what we're saying is he will be ready once the court case starts and he will be able to stand as a man in that courtroom."

This will be Pistorius' first court appearance since he was freed on bail Feb. 22. The family contends evidence will prove his contention that the shooting was an accident.

The 26-year-old runner is charged with premeditated murder for the Feb. 14 death of Steenkamp. He denies the charge, saying he shot the 29-year-old model and law graduate by mistake thinking she was a nighttime intruder in his home.

The images have not been verified by The Associated Press or South African police. Sky News said it "obtained" the collection of photographs of Pistorius' home, but did not say where from.

Oscar Pistorius has been living _ sometimes in isolation, according to his family _ at his uncle's house since being bailed. Since then, there have only been two reported public sightings of him: a grainy cellphone photograph of the runner wearing carbon fiber blades at his practice track, plus a visit to a Johannesburg restaurant.

He cut a broken figure at his bail hearing, sobbing through much of the proceedings. The multiple Paralympic champion has also given up competition for the rest of the year to focus on his trial. He faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted.

"Aspirations? You know, if you'd asked that question to Oscar, he would say: `Uncle Arnold, I know I've got a purpose in life. God told me I've got a purpose in life.'" Arnold Pistorius said. "Whether that is running, whether that is whatever, I don't know. I don't want to speculate on that because that is for him to decide, but he says he's got a bigger purpose in life."

The images of Oscar Pistorius' home appear to show the inside of the toilet cubicle where Steenkamp was hit by three of the four bullets fired through a wooden door. They also show a bloody trail leading out of the toilet and into the main bathroom and a footprint in blood, as well as two marks on the door that Sky says indicates bullet holes.

Despite questions being raised over the professionalism of the South African police, Pistorius' family said it trusts the legal process and believes the evidence will acquit him.

"As a family we fully stand behind Oscar as he prepares to appear in court this Tuesday," the family said. "We believe in him, love him and will support him every step of the way in what lies ahead. We continue to have great faith in the South African legal justice system and believe that Oscar's account of what happened on that terrible night in February will be borne out by the evidence that the defense team will lead in court."

___

Follow Gerald Imray at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP