Oscar Pistorius murder trial set for March 2014

The prosecutor in Oscar Pistorius case said the dates of 3 to 20 March had been mutually agreed for the trial at a hearing at Pretoria magistrates’ court.

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The prosecution handed a copy of the indictment to Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.

He was granted bail in February and has since resumed some low-key training.

During Monday’s brief hearing, prosecutor Gerrie Nel also said he planned to transfer case to the high court: “We have prepared the indictment.”

Oscar Pistorius was also indicted on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.

The double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.

His arrest in February stunned many South Africans who saw him as a national sporting hero after his long legal battle to be able to take part in the Olympics.

State prosecutors are arguing that the killing was premeditated, a charge which carries a sentence of life imprisonment. They say Oscar Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp intentionally after a fight.

But the athlete says he shot his girlfriend through the bathroom door of his home in Pretoria after mistaking her for a burglar.

The prosecution handed over details of its case against Oscar Pistorius at Monday’s hearing, including a witness list and forensic reports.

Much depends on ballistic evidence from the bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was shot.

South African newspapers have reported that at least some of that forensic evidence appears to back up OScar Pistorius’s version of events.

However, the prosecution is expected to call witnesses who will say the Olympic runner was preoccupied with guns, and had been arguing with his girlfriend.

Last week, the police wrapped up their six-month investigation into Reeva Steenkamp’s killing.

“The South African Police Service is hopeful that justice will prevail,” a statement from the office of South Africa’s national police commissioner read.

Oscar Pistorius returned to court on what would have been Reeva Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.

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