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| Oscar Pistorius weeps as court hears murder charge | Oscar Pistorius weeps as court hears murder charge |
| (3 months later) | |
| South African Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius wept in court as prosecutors said they would pursue a "premeditated murder" charge over the death of his girlfriend. | South African Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius wept in court as prosecutors said they would pursue a "premeditated murder" charge over the death of his girlfriend. |
| Model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home near Pretoria on Thursday. | Model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home near Pretoria on Thursday. |
| An application for bail was postponed until next Tuesday and Mr Pistorius, 26, will remain in police custody. | An application for bail was postponed until next Tuesday and Mr Pistorius, 26, will remain in police custody. |
| The athlete later said in a statement released by his agent that he disputed the charge in the "strongest terms". | The athlete later said in a statement released by his agent that he disputed the charge in the "strongest terms". |
| The statement also said that "firstly, and most importantly, all our thoughts today must be with the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp". | The statement also said that "firstly, and most importantly, all our thoughts today must be with the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp". |
| 'Traumatised' | 'Traumatised' |
| Dozens of reporters were in the courtroom in Pretoria on Friday, where chief magistrate Desmond Nair was presiding. | Dozens of reporters were in the courtroom in Pretoria on Friday, where chief magistrate Desmond Nair was presiding. |
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| The BBC's Andrew Harding, at the scene, said the defendant cut a lonely figure, holding his head forward and breathing heavily through tears. | The BBC's Andrew Harding, at the scene, said the defendant cut a lonely figure, holding his head forward and breathing heavily through tears. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued for a "premeditated murder" charge. Mr Pistorius slumped forward at the mention of the words. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued for a "premeditated murder" charge. Mr Pistorius slumped forward at the mention of the words. |
| Media access was discussed at the 40-minute session and the magistrate ruled that there should be no live recording of the bail hearings. | Media access was discussed at the 40-minute session and the magistrate ruled that there should be no live recording of the bail hearings. |
| Mr Pistorius's team had argued against such coverage and cited his "extremely traumatised state of mind". | Mr Pistorius's team had argued against such coverage and cited his "extremely traumatised state of mind". |
| Both prosecution and defence agreed Mr Pistorius could remain in custody at a police station and not in prison. | Both prosecution and defence agreed Mr Pistorius could remain in custody at a police station and not in prison. |
| Members of Mr Pistorius's family, including sister Aimee, brother Carl and father Henke, were in the courtroom. | Members of Mr Pistorius's family, including sister Aimee, brother Carl and father Henke, were in the courtroom. |
| Relatives reached forward to touch Mr Pistorius's shoulder as he stood and left the courtroom at the end of proceedings. | Relatives reached forward to touch Mr Pistorius's shoulder as he stood and left the courtroom at the end of proceedings. |
| Mr Pistorius had earlier arrived at court in the back of a police vehicle, hiding his face with a jacket and notebook. | Mr Pistorius had earlier arrived at court in the back of a police vehicle, hiding his face with a jacket and notebook. |
| Forensic experts are expected to continue examining the house in the Silver Lakes area on the outskirts of South Africa's administrative capital where Ms Steenkamp, 29, died. | Forensic experts are expected to continue examining the house in the Silver Lakes area on the outskirts of South Africa's administrative capital where Ms Steenkamp, 29, died. |
| Correspondents say the athlete's arrest has stunned the country where he is considered a national hero. | Correspondents say the athlete's arrest has stunned the country where he is considered a national hero. |
| He made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. | He made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. |
| He is known as the "blade runner" because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in. He was born without a fibula in both legs and had his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday. | He is known as the "blade runner" because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in. He was born without a fibula in both legs and had his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday. |
| Police were called to his home in the early hours of Thursday morning. | Police were called to his home in the early hours of Thursday morning. |
| They found paramedics treating a 29-year-old woman with four gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. She died at the scene, and officers recovered a 9mm pistol. | They found paramedics treating a 29-year-old woman with four gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. She died at the scene, and officers recovered a 9mm pistol. |
| A post-mortem examination is being carried out on Friday but the results will not be made public, police said. | A post-mortem examination is being carried out on Friday but the results will not be made public, police said. |
| Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp had reportedly been dating since November. | Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp had reportedly been dating since November. |
| Mr Pistorius dominated in his category at successive Paralympic Games, but in 2008 he won a legal battle over his blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to compete in able-bodied competitions. | Mr Pistorius dominated in his category at successive Paralympic Games, but in 2008 he won a legal battle over his blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to compete in able-bodied competitions. |
| He reached the 400m semi-finals in the London 2012 Olympics. At the Paralympics he won silver in the T44 200m, gold in the 4x100 relay and gold in the T44 400m, setting a Paralympic record. | He reached the 400m semi-finals in the London 2012 Olympics. At the Paralympics he won silver in the T44 200m, gold in the 4x100 relay and gold in the T44 400m, setting a Paralympic record. |
| South Africa has one of the highest rates of crime in the world and many residents keep weapons to protect themselves against intruders. | South Africa has one of the highest rates of crime in the world and many residents keep weapons to protect themselves against intruders. |
| But gun ownership is strictly regulated and it is not easy to obtain a licence. | But gun ownership is strictly regulated and it is not easy to obtain a licence. |