Pistorius: 'I was filled with horror and fear' after shooting Reeva
Paralympic athlete's bail hearing adjourned as prosecutors press for premeditated murder
OSCAR PISTORIUS says he had "no intention" of killing his "beloved" girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and is "absolutely mortified" by her death. But a magistrate ruled today that the Paralympic athelete should face a charge of premeditated murder over the model's killing.
The magistrate decided that, for the purpose of considering bail, the case against Pistorius would be considered a 'schedule six' offence - or premeditated murder. This means it will be difficult for the 26-year-old athlete to get bail, Sky News reports.
In a sworn statement read by his defence lawyer at today's hearing, Pistorius said he had been woken in the middle of the night by the sound of what he thought was an intruder.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Feeling "extremely vulnerable" in the "pitch-dark" bedroom and thinking Steenkamp was still in bed with him, he fired his pistol at the bathroom door. When he realised Steenkamp was not in the bed, "it filled me with horror and fear", Pistorius said in his statement. He broke down the door to reach her and "she died in my arms".
The athlete's defence team argued that Steenkamp's killing was "not even murder" and Pistorius should be given bail because he is not a danger to society or himself and is not going to abscond.
But prosecutor Gerrie Nel offered a very different version of events today, telling the Pretoria court the Paralympian had got out of bed at his home on the night Steenkamp was killed, put on his prosthetic legs, "walked seven metres" and fired his gun through the bathroom door.
Nel said Pistorius fired four shots and hit Steenkamp three times. Then he broke down the bathroom door and carried the victim downstairs. The 30-year-old model had fled to the small bathroom and locked herself in because she was scared after an argument.
Nel told the court the defence had "a number of questions to answer". They included:
- Why didn't Pistorius search for his girlfriend if he thought there was a burglar in the house?
- Why did Steenkamp lock herself in the toilet - was she afraid of being shot or killed?
- Why did Pistorius put on his prosthetic limbs and walk seven metres to the bathroom?
"If I arm myself, walk a distance and murder a person, that is premeditated," said Nel. "The door is closed. There is no doubt. I walk seven metres and I kill. The motive is 'I want to kill.' That's it."
Pistorius's face was reported to be "creased in pain" and he was "weeping" as he was formally charged with murder.
Steenkamp's private funeral took place today in her home town of Port Elizabeth.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 21, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - devilish decrees, biblical blunders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 carefully selected cartoons about the Trump-Daniels jury selection process
Cartoons Artists take on a stress-free life, rare peers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Loire Valley Lodges review: sleep, feast and revive in treetop luxury
The Week Recommends Forest hideaway offers chance to relax and reset in Michelin key-winning comfort
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Oscar Pistorius is released from prison on parole
Why everyone's talking about Former sprinter to see out remaining six years of his sentence at uncle's Pretoria home
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Last updated
-
Reeva Steenkamp's family and friends 'disappointed' by verdict
Speed Read After Oscar Pistorius is cleared of murder, his family says there are 'no victors' in such a tragic scenario
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why wasn't Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder?
In Depth After a six-month trial, Oscar Pistorius is cleared of murder but convicted of culpable homicide
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Reeva Steenkamp: the life and death of a rising star
In Depth Oscar Pistorius has been jailed for the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, the model, law graduate and domestic violence campaigner
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Is Oscar Pistorius anxious or just angry? An analyst's view
In Depth This 'prince of the physical world' does not easily fit the description of an anxiety-ridden GAD sufferer
By Coline Covington Last updated
-
Glitz, guns and Pistorius: what haunts white South African men
In Depth The country's brittle, edgy atmosphere has its roots in apartheid, argues Marlene van Niekerk
By The Conversation Published
-
The Pistorius defence: fear of crime - or is it really racism?
In Depth White South Africans fear violent crime – but it occurs in townships not gated communities, says Pierre de Vos
By The Conversation Published
-
Oscar Pistorius trial: affidavit from bail hearing – in full
Speed Read Blade Runner gave his version of events when he made his application for bail in February 2013
By The Week Staff Published