Pistorius in court for South Africa's 'story of the century'
Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has arrived in court for the start of his highly-anticipated trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The six-times sprint champion arrived at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, where he will stand trial charged with the premeditated murder of the 29-year-old model on Valentine’s Day last year.
Reporter John Jacques Cornish is at the courthouse in Pretoria - he says the trial is the story of the century in South Africa.
Double amputee Pistorius, 27, who has been dubbed the “Blade Runner”, shot Miss Steenkamp dead at his home but claims he thought she was an intruder.
His trial is expected to hear from more than 100 witnesses, including neighbours who claim to have heard screams from his house that night, as well as former girlfriends of the athlete.
Pistorius, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie, was ambushed by cameras as he made his way through the building to the courtroom.
Crowds of media gathered outside the court for the case, which has already attracted global attention.
Parts of the proceedings will be broadcast live, and in South Africa a 24-hour channel will cover the trial and commentary around it.
Today is thought to be the first time Pistorius will come face to face with Miss Steenkamp’s mother, June, who is attending the trial.
The sporting star’s case will be decided by a judge assisted by two “assessors”, but no jury.
The mandatory sentence for someone convicted of premeditated murder in South Africa is life with a minimum of 25 years in prison, meaning if Pistorius is found guilty he will be over 50 when he is released.
The paralympian is accused of the premeditated murder of Miss Steenkamp, who died of multiple gunshot wounds. Prosecutors allege Pistorius shot her four times through the locked bathroom door at his home in Pretoria in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
Some witnesses have described hearing a woman scream, followed by “moments of silence”, then hearing gunshots followed by more screaming.
Pistorius claims he thought an intruder was in his home, but prosecutors say that even so, an “error in persona” did not affect the fact he intended to kill someone.
Some 107 witnesses are listed by the state, including Miss Steenkamp’s close friends Desiree, Gina and Kim Myers, as well as Pistorius’s sister Aimee and his uncle Arnold.
