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| Oscar Pistorius in Court for bail hearing |
South African athletics star, Oscar Pistorius, has been charged with premeditated murder of his girlfriend as prosecutors told a court that he killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting her through a bathroom door at his home .
Details of the prosecution's case against Mr Pistorius emerged at a bail hearing in Pretoria.The prosecution is pursuing a charge of premeditated murder against the 26-year-old athlete.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that on the night of the killing, Mr Pistorius - a double amputee - got up, put on his prostheses, walked seven metres and fired his gun through the bathroom door.
He shot four times and hit Ms Steenkamp three times, he said. Mr Nel added that the defendant later broke down the bathroom door and carried the victim downstairs.
The prosecution also claimed that Ms Steenkamp's overnight bag was found in the bedroom.
Defence lawyer Barry Roux told the court his client did not know in advance who was behind the door.
He said the prosecution had provided "no evidence of premeditated murder", and that it was not even murder.
Pistorius himself denies the charge, and said he thought he was firing at an intruder when he shot his girlfriend at his home.
After hearing argument from both sides, the magistrate ruled that Mr Pistorius should indeed face a charge under the so-called "Schedule 6", or premeditated murder.
The judge reserved the right to downgrade that ruling at any time, but Mr Pistorius' legal team will now need to prove he deserves bail despite facing the most serious charge as premeditated murder attracts a life-time sentence.
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| Family and Friends at Steenkamp's private funeral |
The hearing came as the victim's family held a private funeral in which she will be cremated.
Friends and relatives hugged each other at the start of the service for the 29-year-old former model in her home town of Port Elizabeth.
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