Oscar Pistorius Will Be Tried For Premeditated Murder Of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp; Trial To Start March 3, 2014

Oscar Pistorius, the South African Olympian, has officially been indicted for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, a double amputee who made headlines as the “Blade Runner” when he competed in the London Olympics on prosthetic legs, will stand trial throughout the month of March 2014, starting on March 3.

A hearing on Monday established the charges against Pistorius, who shot and killed Steenkamp, a model, on Valentine’s Day of this year. Pistorius claims he thought he was shooting at an intruder, but prosecutors believe that Pistorius was obsessed with guns and planned to murder Steenkamp after a fight.

Pistorius has been accused of premeditated murder and violating the firearms control act in South Africa for having ammunition for a gun that is not licensed to him.

Pistorius was granted bail almost ten days after Steenkamp’s death and resumed light training earlier this summer. In June, the Pistorius family announced his return to the track on his official website with a statement: “His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case. His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial."

Pistorius’ uncle, Arnold Pistorius, spoke out in June about the athlete’s immeasurable grief. "What can you say if the person you love the most dies, and you were the instrument? How would you feel? It’s unthinkable,” Arnold Pistorius told CNN.

In April, Arnold Pistorius had posted a statement on his website titled, "Not a Day Passes that Oscar does not Mourn for Reeva":

“For Oscar the process is ‘incredibly overwhleming’ as he struggles not only to deal with manner in which he lost his girlfriend but also his role in it,” the uncle claimed in the statement.

The prosecution will reportedly build their case based on cellphone records and forensics on the crime scene and the shots that were fired.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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