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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Oscar Pistorius 'thought he was firing at intruder' | Oscar Pistorius 'thought he was firing at intruder' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South African athletics star Oscar Pistorius has denied murdering his girlfriend, and said he thought he was firing at an intruder when he shot her at his home. | South African athletics star Oscar Pistorius has denied murdering his girlfriend, and said he thought he was firing at an intruder when he shot her at his home. |
| He told a bail hearing that he loved her and never intended to kill her. | He told a bail hearing that he loved her and never intended to kill her. |
| Prosecutors accuse him of premeditated murder. They told the Pretoria court that Mr Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp dead by firing through a bathroom door. | |
| The hearing came as the victim's family held a funeral for her. | The hearing came as the victim's family held a funeral for her. |
| Tuesday's hearing began with the prosecution giving its account of the killing, which it says was premeditated murder by the 26-year-old athlete. | Tuesday's hearing began with the prosecution giving its account of the killing, which it says was premeditated murder by the 26-year-old athlete. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that on the evening of 14 February, Mr Pistorius - a double amputee - had got up from bed, put on his prostheses, and fired his gun through the door of the small bathroom. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that on the evening of 14 February, Mr Pistorius - a double amputee - had got up from bed, put on his prostheses, and fired his gun through the door of the small bathroom. |
| He shot four times and hit Ms Steenkamp three times, Mr Nel said. | He shot four times and hit Ms Steenkamp three times, Mr Nel said. |
| He added that the defendant later broke down the bathroom door and carried the body downstairs, Mr Nel added. | He added that the defendant later broke down the bathroom door and carried the body downstairs, Mr Nel added. |
| 'Pitch-dark' | 'Pitch-dark' |
| Defence lawyer Barry Roux then read a sworn statement from Mr Pistorius, saying the couple had decided to spend that evening at home. | Defence lawyer Barry Roux then read a sworn statement from Mr Pistorius, saying the couple had decided to spend that evening at home. |
| They were in the bedroom when at one point Oscar Pistorius went to the balcony and heard a noise, the statement said. | They were in the bedroom when at one point Oscar Pistorius went to the balcony and heard a noise, the statement said. |
| "It was pitch-dark in the bedroom," it added. "I did not have my prosthetic legs on and felt extremely vulnerable." | "It was pitch-dark in the bedroom," it added. "I did not have my prosthetic legs on and felt extremely vulnerable." |
| According to the statement, the defendant thought Ms Steenkamp was still in bed, and he fired through the bathroom door believing he was shooting at an intruder. | According to the statement, the defendant thought Ms Steenkamp was still in bed, and he fired through the bathroom door believing he was shooting at an intruder. |
| When he realised Ms Steenkamp was not in the bed, "it filled me with horror and fear", it said. | When he realised Ms Steenkamp was not in the bed, "it filled me with horror and fear", it said. |
| Mr Pistorius broke the door down with a cricket bat to find his girlfriend shot inside, the statement said. | Mr Pistorius broke the door down with a cricket bat to find his girlfriend shot inside, the statement said. |
| The athlete was sobbing in court, correspondents say. | The athlete was sobbing in court, correspondents say. |
| The hearing was later adjourned until Wednesday. | The hearing was later adjourned until Wednesday. |
| Meanwhile, the private funeral for the 29-year-old former model was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth. | Meanwhile, the private funeral for the 29-year-old former model was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth. |
| Her father, Barry Steenkamp, told reporters: "We have to keep Reeva in our hearts forever". | Her father, Barry Steenkamp, told reporters: "We have to keep Reeva in our hearts forever". |
| Her brother Adam said there was "a space missing" inside all the people she knew. | Her brother Adam said there was "a space missing" inside all the people she knew. |
| The case has aroused huge interest both in South Africa, where Oscar Pistorius is regarded as a national hero, and around the world. | The case has aroused huge interest both in South Africa, where Oscar Pistorius is regarded as a national hero, and around the world. |
| He is a multiple Paralympic champion, winning gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens, at Beijing 2008 and at London 2012. | He is a multiple Paralympic champion, winning gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens, at Beijing 2008 and at London 2012. |
| In London he made history by becoming the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, progressing to the semi-finals of the 400m. |