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Prosecutor Says Pistorius Shot Woman Four Times Through Closed Door Prosecutor Says Pistorius Shot Woman Through Closed Door
(35 minutes later)
PRETORIA, South Africa — Prosecutors accused Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star and one of the world’s best-known athletes, of premeditated murder on Tuesday, saying he opened fire four times on his girlfriend through a locked bathroom door after putting on his prosthetic legs and walking more than 20 feet from a bedroom.PRETORIA, South Africa — Prosecutors accused Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star and one of the world’s best-known athletes, of premeditated murder on Tuesday, saying he opened fire four times on his girlfriend through a locked bathroom door after putting on his prosthetic legs and walking more than 20 feet from a bedroom.
It was the first time that prosecutors began to lay out details of their accusations since the case exploded into public view last Thursday when the police arrived at Mr. Pistorius’s house in a gated community in Pretoria to find Reeva Steenkamp dead from gunshot wounds. It was the first time that prosecutors provided details of their accusations since the case stunned South Africa last Thursday when the police arrived at Mr. Pistorius’s house in a gated community in Pretoria to find Reeva Steenkamp dead from gunshot wounds.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Ms. Steenkamp had been in a tiny room measuring roughly 16 square feet. “She could not go anywhere,” he said. “It must have been horrific.” Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the packed court that Ms. Steenkamp, a model who had just made her debut in a reality television show, had been in a tiny room measuring less than 20 square feet. “She could not go anywhere,” he said. “It must have been horrific.”
“She locked the door for a purpose. We will get to that purpose,” he said. “She locked the door for a purpose. We will get to that purpose,” he said. She was struck by three of the four rounds, he said.
But a lawyer acting for Mr. Pistorius, Barry Roux, said the defense would “submit that this is not a murder.” He said there was no evidence that Mr. Pistorius, 26, and Ms. Steenkamp, 29, had fought and there was no evidence of a motive. He also challenged the prosecution to produce a witness to corroborate its version of Mr. Pistorius’s actions.But a lawyer acting for Mr. Pistorius, Barry Roux, said the defense would “submit that this is not a murder.” He said there was no evidence that Mr. Pistorius, 26, and Ms. Steenkamp, 29, had fought and there was no evidence of a motive. He also challenged the prosecution to produce a witness to corroborate its version of Mr. Pistorius’s actions.
“Scratch the veneer” of the prosecution case, he said, and there was no evidence to support it.“Scratch the veneer” of the prosecution case, he said, and there was no evidence to support it.
Mr. Pistorius appeared in the Pretoria courtroom on Tuesday to seek bail — a step police officials have said they will oppose. Mr. Pistorius looked grim-faced, his jaw set, as he arrived in court. But, as he did during his first appearance in court on Friday, he wept when the prosecutor said he had “killed an innocent woman.” “All we really know is she locked herself behind the toilet door and she was shot,” Mr. Roux said.
Ms. Steenkamp’s funeral was scheduled for later on Tuesday in the southern coastal city of Port Elizabeth, her hometown. Initial news reports in South Africa said that Mr. Pistorius, who ran on carbon-fiber blades that earned him the nickname of Blade Runner, had accidentally shot his girlfriend, thinking she was an intruder. But those suggestions gave way to grim police accounts of previous law enforcement complaints about domestic episodes at his home and the charge of premeditated murder. Initial news reports in South Africa said that Mr. Pistorius, who ran on carbon-fiber blades that earned him the nickname of Blade Runner, had accidentally shot his girlfriend, thinking she was an intruder.
The development stunned a nation that had elevated Mr. Pistorius as an emblem of the ability to overcome acute adversity and a symbol of South Africa’s ability to project its achievements onto the world stage. But Mr. Nel, the prosecutor, said on Tuesday: “If I arm myself, walk a distance and murder a person, that is premeditated,” he said. “The door is closed. There is no doubt. I walk seven metres and I kill.”
He added “The motive is ‘I want to kill.’ That’s it.”
If convicted of premeditated murder, Mr. Pistorius would face a mandatory life sentence, though under South African law he would be eligible for parole in 25 years at the latest. South Africa abolished the death penalty in 1995.
Seeking bail, which police officials say they will oppose, Mr. Pistorius was appearing for the second time since Friday. He arrived in court looking grim-faced, his jaw set. But, as during his earlier appearance, he wept openly when the prosecutor said that he had “killed an innocent woman.”
Ms. Steenkamp’s funeral was scheduled for later on Tuesday in the southern coastal city of Port Elizabeth, her hometown.
The affair has stunned a nation that had elevated Mr. Pistorius as an emblem of the ability to overcome acute adversity and a symbol of South Africa’s ability to project its achievements onto the world stage.
During his first court appearance on Friday, Mr. Pistorius did not enter a formal plea. But a statement released by his agent said that he disputed the charge of premeditated murder “in the strongest terms” and that “our thoughts and prayers today should be” for Ms. Steenkamp, and her family, “regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.”During his first court appearance on Friday, Mr. Pistorius did not enter a formal plea. But a statement released by his agent said that he disputed the charge of premeditated murder “in the strongest terms” and that “our thoughts and prayers today should be” for Ms. Steenkamp, and her family, “regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.”
If convicted, Mr. Pistorius would face a mandatory life sentence, though under South African law he would be eligible for parole in 25 years at the latest. South Africa abolished the death penalty in 1995.
Mr. Pistorius was born without fibula bones and both of his legs were amputated below the knee as an infant. But he became a Paralympic champion and became the first Paralympic sprinter to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.Mr. Pistorius was born without fibula bones and both of his legs were amputated below the knee as an infant. But he became a Paralympic champion and became the first Paralympic sprinter to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.
His triumphs made him a global track star. Several companies have withdrawn lucrative sponsorships and his case has played into an emotional debate in South Africa about violence against women.His triumphs made him a global track star. Several companies have withdrawn lucrative sponsorships and his case has played into an emotional debate in South Africa about violence against women.
Members of the Women’s League of the ruling African National Congress protested outside the building, waving placards saying: “No Bail for Pistorius,” Reuters reported.Members of the Women’s League of the ruling African National Congress protested outside the building, waving placards saying: “No Bail for Pistorius,” Reuters reported.

Lydia Polgreen reported from Pretoria, South Africa, and Alan Cowell from London.

Lydia Polgreen reported from Pretoria, South Africa, and Alan Cowell from London.