Pretoria - The family of Reeva Steenkamp arrived at the High Court in Pretoria after 8am on Thursday for the judgment in Paralympian Oscar Pistorius's murder trial.
Her parents June and Barry Steenkamp were seen arriving, as well as her cousin Kim Martins.
Steenkamp's friends Phuti Khomo and Gina and Kim Myers were also at court.
Steenkamp lawyer Dup de Bruyn, and Pistorius's counsel Barry Roux also arrived at court. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel made an early arrival, wearing a dark suit and white shirt.
The ANC Women's League were also in attendance.
A supporter outside the High Court in Pretoria said Pistorius is an inspiration and he must smile.
“I feel very, very sorry for Oscar. We are here to support him, me and my daughter… I want him to know he must feel free to smile again,” Rea du Plessis said.
She was carrying a banner outside the court which read: “Oscar you were, you are, (you) will always be (an) inspiration, a HERO.”
She said she supported Pistorius despite him “making a mistake”.
Scores of journalists streamed to the court on Thursday morning and by 8am, there was already a queue outside the courtroom door.
Security informed media that they would be allowed into the court at 8.45am.
Television vans were lined up on Madiba Street, and several camera crews had set up at the court's entrance, awaiting the arrival of Pistorius.
Part of the road had been cordoned off, and police were positioned at certain points.
Judge Thokozile Masipa was expected to start handing down judgment in the case at 9.30am.
Pistorius said he thought an intruder was behind the door of the toilet in his Pretoria home when he shot through it. He fired four times, killing his girlfriend Steenkamp on February 14, 2013.
The State says the murder was premeditated.
When the trial started on March 3, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and to three firearm-related charges.
Sapa