Oscar Pistorius returns to court

Athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during a break in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters

Athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during a break in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters

Published Jun 4, 2013

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Pretoria - Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is due back in court on Tuesday for the first time since being freed on bail in February over the killing of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

The Pretoria magistrate's court could set a date for the trial of the double amputee, who is accused of murdering Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day at his upmarket home in Pretoria.

Tuesday's hearing comes just days after a British television channel broadcast leaked crime scene pictures showing the blood-spattered bathroom where Steenkamp was fatally shot multiple times through a locked door.

The court session is expected to be brief, with both the defence and prosecution seeking a postponement as the police try to wrap up their investigation by August.

“The court will be told about the progress of the investigation and the matter is most likely to be postponed for trial,” said lawyer Kenny Oldwadge, one of the leading lights in Pistorius's high-profile defence team.

The prosecution has accused the 26-year-old of premeditated murder, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

But the athlete claims he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder in a “terrible accident” and the defence wants the charge reduced to culpable homicide, which risks up to 15 years behind bars.

Steenkamp, 29, who had been dating Pistorius for just a few months, suffered gunshot wounds to her head, elbow and hip.

The case is bound to be one of the country's most sensational trials.

Courts in South Africa have a huge backlog of rape and murder cases. But some observers have suggested that Pistorius may get preferential treatment and a possible fast-tracking of his case.

The Johannesburg-born Paralympic champion became an inspirational hero to millions as the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied competitors at the London Olympics last year.

Since the killing, details emerged of his rocky private life of rash behaviour, beautiful women, guns and fast cars, although his aunt was quoted in the media this week as saying he has turned to the Bible.

Pistorius admitted in an interview with a British newspaper last year that he slept with a pistol, cricket bat and baseball bat for fear of burglars.

His family said on Monday it was shaken by the graphic crime scene photos showing bloodstains on the toilet seat and surrounding floor and the bathroom door marked with two bullet holes just below the handle.

However, it said it continues to have “great faith” in the country's justice system and believes “that Oscar's account of what happened on that terrible night in February will be borne out by the evidence”.

The “traumatised” athlete openly wept when he first appeared in court after his arrest, which sent shock waves throughout the world and brought his stellar career to an abrupt halt.

Pistorius’s agent said in May that he would not be racing this season as he had to focus on the court case and was not “mentally and physically ready” to compete at a high level.

Pistorius was freed on bail of R1-million and in March the court lifted a raft of stringent conditions including a travel ban and mandatory drug and alcohol tests.

He has lost lucrative contracts with the US sportswear giant Nike and the French cosmetics firm Clarins, among others, and has reportedly also been fined about R1-million for undeclared taxes. - Sapa-AFP

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