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Oscar Pistorius returns to court | Oscar Pistorius returns to court |
(35 minutes later) | |
South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is back in court in Pretoria for a bail hearing that may reveal details of the murder case against him. | |
He arrived wearing a blue suit and a tie before prosecutors began outlining their case - expected to be a charge of premeditated murder that he will deny. | |
Mr Pistorius' girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, was shot dead at his home on Thursday. Police recovered a hand gun. | |
She is due to be cremated at a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth later. | She is due to be cremated at a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth later. |
Tuesday's hearing - the first since Mr Pistorius broke down in court on Friday - began with the prosecutor saying the defendant had "shot an unarmed and innocent woman". | |
The prosecution began outlining evidence against Mr Pistorius to support their argument that he should be denied bail before his trial begins. | |
Mr Pistorius is also likely to enter a plea for the first time. | |
The athlete, who has both legs amputated below the knee, was held at a local police station over the weekend, and has not spoken publicly about Ms Steenkamp's death. | The athlete, who has both legs amputated below the knee, was held at a local police station over the weekend, and has not spoken publicly about Ms Steenkamp's death. |
But a statement released by Mr Pistorius's family suggests he will deny the charges being prepared against him. | But a statement released by Mr Pistorius's family suggests he will deny the charges being prepared against him. |
"The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms," it said. | "The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms," it said. |
Meanwhile the family of Ms Steenkamp has spoken of its grief in a newspaper interview published on Monday. | Meanwhile the family of Ms Steenkamp has spoken of its grief in a newspaper interview published on Monday. |
Speaking to the Times of South Africa, her mother June Steenkamp said: "All we want are answers... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this." | Speaking to the Times of South Africa, her mother June Steenkamp said: "All we want are answers... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this." |
The bail hearing is not expected to be televised after lawyers agreed there should be "no live recording" of proceedings. | The bail hearing is not expected to be televised after lawyers agreed there should be "no live recording" of proceedings. |
The case has aroused huge interest both in South Africa, where he is regarded as a national hero, and around the world. | The case has aroused huge interest both in South Africa, where he is regarded as a national hero, and around the world. |
He rose to fame as one of the most recognisable faces of Paralympic sport, and the first double-amputee track athlete to race in the Olympics. | He rose to fame as one of the most recognisable faces of Paralympic sport, and the first double-amputee track athlete to race in the Olympics. |