Pistorius faces March trial for girlfriend鈥檚 murder
Print Edition
Paralympic sprint star Oscar Pistorius will go on trial in March charged with murdering his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, a magistrate ruled yesterday, after a brief but emotional court appearance.
The 26-year-old double amputee wept and prayed with brother Carl and sister Aimee as he awaited the South African magistrate, who confirmed charges of murder, which carries a life sentence, and illegal possession of ammunition.
Reeva Steenkamp — a blonde cover girl and law graduate who would have turned 30 yesterday — died in the bathroom of Pistorius’s upmarket Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14. She was shot in the head, elbow and hip.
The athlete known as “Blade Runner,” who is currently out on bail, has admitted to killing her but denied murder, saying he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door because he believed she was an intruder.
Prosecutors will argue he is guilty of premeditated murder.
“The accused armed himself with his 9-millimeter pistol and through the locked door, fired four shots at the deceased. The deceased was wounded and died on the scene,” the charge-sheet said.
Magistrate Desmond Nair said the trial would start at the High Court on March 3 and run until March 20.
Yesterday’s hearing lasted only a few minutes, as lawyers had already agreed to start the trial next year amid backlogs in the South African courts.
Media had said Pistorius may also be charged with gun offenses as the state tries to cast him as aggressive and trigger-happy. However, no other charges were listed on the indictment.
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