Emotional Oscar Pistorius breaks down in tears as he is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at their home
UPDATED
After a hush finally descended on the packed courtroom in Pretoria, the
judge set Oscar Pistorius' trial to run from March 3 to March 20 next
year. Pistorius is accused of murdering Ms Steenkamp (right) on
Valentine's night, but claims he shot the 29-year-old after mistaking
her for an intruder. The six-time Paralympic sprint champion was met by a
media scrum as he arrived at Pretoria Magistrates' Court to be served
the official indictment for premeditated murder.
Oscar Pistorius was told he will face trial for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in March as he appeared in court today - the same day that would have been her 30th birthday.
Wiping tears from his eyes, a visibly emotional Pistorius stood silently in the dock as he was formally indicted for premeditated murder at Pretoria Magistrates' Court.
The 26-year-old Paralympian, from South Africa, is accused of shooting Ms Steenkamp to death at their home on Valentine's night, but claims he opened fire on the 29-year-old after mistaking her for an intruder.
And after a hush finally descended on the packed courtroom, the judge set his trial to run from March 3 to March 20 next year at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
The prosecution will present 107 witnesses, some of whom allegedly heard a woman scream, followed by 'moments of silence, then heard gunshots and then more screaming', the indictment says.
The state's witnesses will include Ms Steenkamp's close friends Desiree, Gina and Kim Myers, as well as Pistorius' sister Aimee and his uncle Arnold.
Less than an hour after the hearing ended, Pistorius' brother Carl tweeted a photograph of Oscar and Ms Steenkamp posing together alongside the words: 'Remembered like yesterday. My life was impacted by u @reevasteenkamp & the lady u were! Always close to our hearts.'
Before the hearing began he stood holding hands with sister Aimee and brother Carl as the three siblings prayed silently amid the commotion of the courtroom.
Friends of Ms Steenkamp were also in court.
When asked by Magistrate Desmond Nair if he was well, he replied quietly: 'Under the circumstances, your honour.'
But as proceedings were postponed, the BBC's Andrew Harding claimed to have shaken his hand and asked how he was, to which Pistorius apparently shook his head and mouthed: 'Not good.'
The six-time Paralympic sprint champion was initially charged with premeditated murder for bail purposes while police investigated the circumstances of the shooting before a finalised indictment was served on the double amputee today.
The
prosecution will retain a main charge of premeditated murder. If
convicted, Pistorius faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in
prison.
The indictment accuses Pistorius of
murder, and unlawful possession of ammunition, contrary to Section 90 of
the Firearms Control Act.
In a summary, prosecutors allege Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp, whose cause of death was given as multiple gunshot wounds, four times through the locked bathroom door but said, even if he thought she was an intruder, an 'error in persona' did not affect the fact he intended to kill someone.
The summary alleges that Ms Steenkamp locked herself in the toilet cubicle next to the main bedroom at Pistorius' house in the early hours of February 14.
It claims the athlete armed himself with his 9mm pistol and fired four shots through the locked door. The cause of his girlfriend's death, which happened just after 3am, is given as 'multiple gunshot wounds'.
Some state witnesses heard a woman scream, followed by 'moments of silence, then heard gunshots and then more screaming', the summary said.
It added: 'The accused said to witnesses on the scene, that he thought she was an intruder.
'Even then, the accused shot with the direct intention to kill a person. An error in persona will not affect the intention to kill a human being.'
Some 107 witnesses are listed by the state, including Ms Steenkamp's close friends Desiree, Gina and Kim Myers, as well as Pistorius' sister Aimee and his uncle Arnold.
Additional charged
are also 'possible', prosecutors told The Associated Press, but declined
to comment about the charges before today's hearing.
It has been reported that the Paralympian could face extra charges of allegedly discharging a firearm recklessly in two other incidents.
Papers presented at the court today are expected to include a witness list and detail some of the evidence police have gathered in the six months since the death of Ms Steenkamp.
Pistorius is currently on bail after a judge changed his conditions in March, allowing him to travel abroad providing he hand over his travel plans.
The 'Blade Runner', who was recently spotted kayaking with friends in South Africa, has resumed a 'low-key track routine', according to his family.
In a statement on his website in June, they said: 'Oscar is not contemplating a formal return to athletics and his training is not aimed at preparing for competition.
'His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case. His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial.'
The athlete was 'overcome with emotion' when he pulled on his carbon fibre running blades for his first track training since Ms Steenkamp's death, his agent Peet van Zyl said, adding that Pistorius described his return to the track as 'bittersweet'.
Ms Steenkamp's parents previously said they are still searching for answers.
In a television interview in June, June Steenkamp said: 'There is only one person who knows what happened' on the night her daughter was killed.
Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp's uncle has said he has already forgiven Oscar Pistorius for killing her.
Mike Steenkamp said the family have coped with her death by concentrating on her life rather than how she died.
In
an interview on ITV's Daybreak, Mr Steenkamp said: 'I think from the
beginning and onset that we decided that we could never be sidetracked
from Reeva's life, and I think that's helped us tremendously.
'I
just think of Reeva's life. How happy she was, and what she actually
meant to the family. Not only to her own parents, but to her cousins and
myself and my wife. She was an exceptional person.'
He said he has forgiven Pistorius, who is due to appears at Pretoria Magistrates' Court today, for killing his niece because of his firm believe in God.
He added that the family have not faced the Paralympic champion in court but would want to know the outcome of the case.
'We haven't attended anything and we haven't actually applied our minds to the court case or Oscar's side,' he said.
'I know my brother and his wife would like to know at the end of the day why, quite rightly so. And I think that will come out.'
Pistorius's friend Mike Kendrick also appeared on the programme and said his loved ones were worried about his mental state.
'He's not doing well,' he said.
Oscar Pistorius was told he will face trial for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in March as he appeared in court today - the same day that would have been her 30th birthday.
Wiping tears from his eyes, a visibly emotional Pistorius stood silently in the dock as he was formally indicted for premeditated murder at Pretoria Magistrates' Court.
The 26-year-old Paralympian, from South Africa, is accused of shooting Ms Steenkamp to death at their home on Valentine's night, but claims he opened fire on the 29-year-old after mistaking her for an intruder.
And after a hush finally descended on the packed courtroom, the judge set his trial to run from March 3 to March 20 next year at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
Emotional: A visibly emotional Pistorius stood
silently in the dock as he was formally indicted for premeditated murder
at Pretoria Magistrates' Court
Birthday: The 26-year-old Paralympian wiped
tears from his eyes and blew his nose as he was served the indictment on
the day Ms Steenkamp (right) would have turned 30
Family prayer: Before the hearing began he stood
holding hands with sister Aimee and brother Carl as the three siblings
prayed silently amid the commotion of the courtroom
Silent moment: Pistorius stands next to his
sister Aimee and his brother Carl in silence as the courtroom commotion
rages on around them
The state's witnesses will include Ms Steenkamp's close friends Desiree, Gina and Kim Myers, as well as Pistorius' sister Aimee and his uncle Arnold.
Less than an hour after the hearing ended, Pistorius' brother Carl tweeted a photograph of Oscar and Ms Steenkamp posing together alongside the words: 'Remembered like yesterday. My life was impacted by u @reevasteenkamp & the lady u were! Always close to our hearts.'
Before the hearing began he stood holding hands with sister Aimee and brother Carl as the three siblings prayed silently amid the commotion of the courtroom.
Sibling support: Aimee looks up at her brother (left) who fought tears throughout the hearing
Best friend: Gina Myers (right), Reeva
Steenkamp's best friend, waits for the South African sprinter to appear
beside an unidentified female friend
Camp Steenkamp: Unidentified friends of Reeva Steenkamp's family support each other feet from Pistorius' brother and sister
Camp Pistorius: Relatives chat with his sister Aimee ahead of court proceedings
When asked by Magistrate Desmond Nair if he was well, he replied quietly: 'Under the circumstances, your honour.'
But as proceedings were postponed, the BBC's Andrew Harding claimed to have shaken his hand and asked how he was, to which Pistorius apparently shook his head and mouthed: 'Not good.'
The six-time Paralympic sprint champion was initially charged with premeditated murder for bail purposes while police investigated the circumstances of the shooting before a finalised indictment was served on the double amputee today.
'In our hearts': Less than an hour after the
hearing ended, Pistorius' brother Carl tweeted a photograph of Oscar and
Ms Steenkamp posing together alongside the words: 'Remembered like
yesterday. My life was impacted by u @reevasteenkamp & the lady u
were! Always close to our hearts'
'Not good'! As proceedings were postponed, BBC
journalist Andrew Harding, who was sitting behind Pistorius in court,
claimed to have shaken his hand and asked how he was, to which Pistorius
apparently shook his head and mouthed: 'Not good'
DID HE OR DIDN'T HE? WHAT THE PROSECUTION CLAIM HAPPENED
In a summary, prosecutors allege Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp, whose cause of death was given as multiple gunshot wounds, four times through the locked bathroom door but said, even if he thought she was an intruder, an 'error in persona' did not affect the fact he intended to kill someone.
The summary alleges that Ms Steenkamp locked herself in the toilet cubicle next to the main bedroom at Pistorius' house in the early hours of February 14.
It claims the athlete armed himself with his 9mm pistol and fired four shots through the locked door. The cause of his girlfriend's death, which happened just after 3am, is given as 'multiple gunshot wounds'.
Some state witnesses heard a woman scream, followed by 'moments of silence, then heard gunshots and then more screaming', the summary said.
It added: 'The accused said to witnesses on the scene, that he thought she was an intruder.
'Even then, the accused shot with the direct intention to kill a person. An error in persona will not affect the intention to kill a human being.'
Some 107 witnesses are listed by the state, including Ms Steenkamp's close friends Desiree, Gina and Kim Myers, as well as Pistorius' sister Aimee and his uncle Arnold.
It has been reported that the Paralympian could face extra charges of allegedly discharging a firearm recklessly in two other incidents.
Papers presented at the court today are expected to include a witness list and detail some of the evidence police have gathered in the six months since the death of Ms Steenkamp.
Pistorius is currently on bail after a judge changed his conditions in March, allowing him to travel abroad providing he hand over his travel plans.
The 'Blade Runner', who was recently spotted kayaking with friends in South Africa, has resumed a 'low-key track routine', according to his family.
In a statement on his website in June, they said: 'Oscar is not contemplating a formal return to athletics and his training is not aimed at preparing for competition.
'His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case. His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial.'
The athlete was 'overcome with emotion' when he pulled on his carbon fibre running blades for his first track training since Ms Steenkamp's death, his agent Peet van Zyl said, adding that Pistorius described his return to the track as 'bittersweet'.
Ms Steenkamp's parents previously said they are still searching for answers.
In a television interview in June, June Steenkamp said: 'There is only one person who knows what happened' on the night her daughter was killed.
Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp's uncle has said he has already forgiven Oscar Pistorius for killing her.
Mike Steenkamp said the family have coped with her death by concentrating on her life rather than how she died.
Support: Pistorius was greeted by his sister
Aimee and his brother Carl as he took his place in the dock. Moments
later the three siblings held hands and prayed together before
proceedings began
The prosecution will retain a main charge of
premeditated murder. If convicted, Pistorius faces a life sentence with a
minimum of 25 years in prison
Arrival: The athlete looked visibly upset as he arrived in court wearing a black suit and blue shirt
Chaos: The double amputee was met by a scrum of photographers as he arrived at Pretoria Magistrates' Court
Facing jail: The prosecution will retain a main
charge of premeditated murder. If convicted, Pistorius faces a life
sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison
He said he has forgiven Pistorius, who is due to appears at Pretoria Magistrates' Court today, for killing his niece because of his firm believe in God.
He added that the family have not faced the Paralympic champion in court but would want to know the outcome of the case.
Global spotlight: Prosecutors, who allege the
Paralympian killed Ms Steenkamp (right) after an argument, submitted a
list of more than 100 witnesses for a trial that will be followed around
the world
Last hours: In this frame grab from CCTV footage
shows Reeva Steenkamp entering the secured access to Pistorius' home
hours before she died
'I know my brother and his wife would like to know at the end of the day why, quite rightly so. And I think that will come out.'
Pistorius's friend Mike Kendrick also appeared on the programme and said his loved ones were worried about his mental state.
'He's not doing well,' he said.
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