News
South Africa: “Blade Runner” Pistorius murder trial postponed until August
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius of South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games. PHOTO/Olivier Morin/AFP/GettyImages
(Reuters) – A South African judge on Tuesday postponed until August 19 the murder trial of star athlete Oscar Pistorius, who has been charged with shooting dead his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
Pistorius, 26, had to make his way through a scrum of photographers and reporters as he made his first formal public appearance since his release on bail in February.
The double amputee athlete, nicknamed “Blade Runner” for the prosthetics he uses in competition, has admitted shooting Reeva Steenkamp, 29, four times through a locked bathroom door on February 14 at his home in Pretoria.
In pre-trial testimony, his lawyers told the court the shooting was a tragic mistake and Pistorius was acting in self-defence against what he thought was an intruder.
Prosecutors accuse him of premeditated murder for firing into the door, hitting Steenkamp in the head, hip and arm.
The judge postponed the case after the athlete’s lawyers asked for more time to prepare.
Pistorius was one of the stars of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London, carrying South Africa’s flag at the closing ceremonies for the Games.
