Prosecutors in South Africa said on Tuesday that Oscar Pistorius, the South African Olympic sprinter, fired four shots and killed “an innocent woman”, as they contested his bail request.
The prosecution at Tuesday’s bail hearing in Pretoria said Pistorius fired four shots at Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend, at his home in a guarded and gated complex in the South African capital.
Three of the shots proved fatal. He then broke down the bathroom floor from the outside and carried the model downstairs.
Gerrie Nel said Pistorius telling his sister that Steenkamp was an intruder was a part of the plan, as he had to put on his prosthesis to walk at least seven metres to the bathroom.
“It was all part of the preplanning. Why would a burglar lock himself inside the bathroom?” Nel said.
Barry Roux, the defence lawyer, said the shooting was accidental: “We submit it is not even murder. There is no concession this is a murder.”
In arguing that Pistorius should be freed on bail, he said there were no other charges outstanding against the athlete who last year became the first double-amputee track athlete to run at the Olympics.
Escorted by police, the 26-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter arrived at the back entrance to the courthouse in Pretoria, before 7am (0900 GMT) on Tuesday.
His head was covered with a hooded sweater as he left the police station and headed to the courthouse.
Desmond Nair, the court magistrate, asked Pistorius how he felt. The athlete, dressed in a gray suit, blue shirt and tie, appeared grim and solemn as he shrugged and stared straight ahead.
Pistorius’ brother Carl and longtime track coach Ampie Louw, the man who convinced Pistorius to take up athletics, were also in the court building, pointing out friends of the family that should be allowed in.
A queue of dozens of people waited to go in through the public entrance.
Steenkamp, was found shot dead in his Pretoria home in the early hours of Thursday, with initial reports suggesting Pistorius may have mistaken her for an intruder.
However, police have made clear that Steenkamp, who will be buried on Tuesday, was killed by more than one gunshot, that Pistorius was the only suspect and that neighbours had heard earlier disturbances.
They said a 9mm pistol was recovered at the house, where there was no sign of a break-in.
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