Oscar trial to have 107 witnesses

Double-amputee Olympian, Oscar Pistorius, left, with his lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, right, during his appears in the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. The the 26-year-old double-amputee Olympian is indicted on a main charge of premeditated murder of his his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Double-amputee Olympian, Oscar Pistorius, left, with his lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, right, during his appears in the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. The the 26-year-old double-amputee Olympian is indicted on a main charge of premeditated murder of his his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Published Aug 19, 2013

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Pretoria - The State intends calling 107 witnesses to testify during the trial of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, according to an indictment served on the murder-accused in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Among the witnesses were Pistorius's sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria where he lived.

Medical experts, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts were among those expected to be called in the March 3 to March 20 trial, which was moved from the magistrate's court to the High Court in Pretoria.

The double-amputee is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead in his home on February 14.

Members of the Myers family were also due to testify. This was the family Steenkamp lived with in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp's best friend.

Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act, the National Prosecuting Authority said. The charges were not read out in court.

After the brief appearance in the magistrate's court, Pistorius was embraced by his family before they were escorted out of the courthouse by about 20 police officers.

Earlier in morning, Pistorius prayed in court with his brother Carl and Aimee, who were seen wiping away tears. - Sapa

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