Pistorius to face additional gun charges in murder trial
South African Olympics and Paralympics track star, Oscar
Pistorius will face two additional gun-related charges at his trial for the
murder of his girlfriend.
The trial is due to start in March next year, prosecutors
said on Tuesday.
Pistorius, who is on bail, says he acted in self defence
mistaking his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder when he shot and
killed her on Valentine's Day at his up market home in February.
Steenkamp was shot in the head, arm and hip by her boy
friend.
The additional charges related to incidents prior to the
February shooting in which Pistorius was alleged to have fired a gun in a
public space.
This will form part of the prosecution's overall murder case
against Pistorius.
Prosecutors have portrayed Pistorius as a cold-blooded
killer and said they were confident that their case, which will have to rely
heavily on forensics and witnesses who said they heard shouting before the
shots, would stand up to scrutiny.
``The new charges relate to the contravention of the Firearm
Control Act, but I cannot go into the details,’’ Nathi Mncube, spokesman for
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority told Reuters.
He could not say if the additional charges might delay the
existing March 3 start date for the trial.
Pistorius' lawyer Brian Webber confirmed his client would
face additional charges but declined to comment further.
The 26-year-old double-amputee known as ``Blade Runner’’ for
the prostheses he wears in competition appeared in court in August when his
trial date was set for next year.
A lesser charge of having 38 rounds of unlicensed ammunition
at his home was also presented on that occasion.
South African media have reported one previous incident in
which Pistorius allegedly fired a gun at a restaurant and another alleged
incident in which he fired shots through a car sunroof while in the company of
a former girlfriend.
Pistorius was born without fibulas and had both his legs
amputated below the knees before he turned one year old.
He was one of the most celebrated athletes of the 2012
Olympics and Paralympics in London, progressing to the Olympics 400-metre
semi-final and winning Paralympics gold over the same distance.
His arrest and upcoming trial have riveted South Africa and
made headlines around the world and, if convicted, he could face life in prison.
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