Pistorious South Africa - South African Paralympic and Olympic running star Oscar Pistorius again broke down in court as his bail application resumed on Tuesday.
The world’s most famous disabled sports personality is facing a charge of murder after his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was gunned down at his home in Pretoria last Thursday.
Her funeral was underway in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday afternoon.
Pistorius, his head covered with a hood, was escorted from the Brooklyn police station to the courthouse where hundreds of local and international media representatives were gathered.
Pistorius’ legal team spent much of Tuesday morning attempting to convince the court that he should not be charged with premeditated murder, which would give him a better chance of securing bail.
The State is represented by Gerrie Nel, who is arguing that the shooting was pre-meditated and that the prosecution rejects claims that she may have been mistaken for a burglar when she was shot three times through a bathroom door at his luxury Pretoria home.
“Pistorius put on his prosthetic legs, walked to his bathroom and fired four shots, three of which hit his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp,” Nel said.
However, defence advocate Barry Roux said the State cannot prove that Pistorius knew Steenkamp was on the other side of the bathroom door when she was shot.
The bail application is expected to continue on Wednesday.
The famous paralympian, nicknamed the blade runner because of his carbon fibre prosthetic legs, made history by qualifying to compete with able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.
Pistorius, who has double below-knee amputations, took part in his first international competitions for able-bodied athletes in 2007.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he entered the men's 400 metres race and was part of South Africa's 4 × 400 metres relay team.
He also took part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics where he won gold medals in the men's 400 metre race in a Paralympic record time of 46.68 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Gandhi Development Trust has said the tragedy underlines that South Africa is battling with a deep-rooted culture of violence.
“This culture of violence exists beyond race, religion, culture or social status. It is of grave concern that the death of Steenkamp comes in the midst of the national focus of violence against women and children. We hope the police will find the truth behind Steenkamp's death and that the justice system will act swiftly,” it said.
Pana 19/02/2013