Oscar Pistorius was formally indicted on charges of murder and illegal possession of ammunition in the South African court on Monday, relating to the shooting death of his girlfriend. The double-amputee Olympian is alleged to have shot Reeva Steenkamp to death in the early morning of Feb. 14 after what prosecutors say was an argument between Pistorius and Steenkamp that night.
Oscar Pistorius indicted on murder charge
The Olympian was indicted on Monday in the shooting death of his girlfriend.
Pistorius has claimed he thought there was an intruder in his home and he was shooting through the closed door to protect himself, maintaining he took the four shots while standing on his stumps. Prosecutors claim they can prove he took the shots while on his prosthetics, showing he did not suddenly get out of bed as he claims, and that the shooting erupted after a loud argument between Pistorius and his girlfriend.
The case will now be sent to the High Court in the South African capital of Pretoria, where a judge will decide Pistorius’ fate. The minimum sentence for a person convicted of premeditated murder is 25 years in South Africa.
Pistorius is an accomplished Paralympian who became an international beacon of hope when he became the first double-leg amputee to compete in the Summer Olympics, competing in the 4 x 400 meter relay and the 400 meter race.
Monday would have been Reeva Steemkamp’s 30th birthday.
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