Pistorius to be indicted, trial in early 2014

JOHANNESBURG - Oscar Pistorius will be indicted for premeditated murder on Monday and the double-amputee Olympian will go on trial in early 2014, about a year after shooting dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

In a somber twist, the world-famous athlete will be served with the murder indictment on the day Steenkamp would have celebrated her 30th birthday.

Oscar Pistorius (L) leaves the Pretoria Magistrates court after a brief appearance, June 4, 2013. Pistorius arrived at court on June 4 in his first formal appearance since his release on bail in February for the Valentine's Day killing of his girlfriend, 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp. [Photo/Agencies]

Pistorius will be formally charged for the Valentine's Day slaying of the woman he says he loved dearly and killed by mistake, and will face a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted of premeditated murder. Other charges could be added to the indictment. Prosecutors declined to comment on South African media reports on Friday that charges of recklessly discharging a firearm in public in two separate incidents would also be laid against the runner.

If the extra charges - reportedly relating to Pistorius shooting a gun out a moving car and firing one accidentally at a restaurant - are added, they may show the prosecution's aim to paint him as trigger-happy at his blockbuster trial next year.

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The 26-year-old Pistorius denies he committed murder and says he shot Steenkamp through a locked toilet cubicle door in his bathroom in the early hours of Feb 14 thinking she was a dangerous nighttime intruder. Prosecutors say he intended to kill her. A six-month police investigation ended this week, during which investigators reportedly focused on cellphones found at Pistorius' upscale home as well as the toilet door through which he shot.

The investigation team "is convinced that the accused has a charge to answer to," the national police commissioner's office said. Detectives, forensic experts, ballistics experts, forensic psychologists and technology experts had all worked the case, police said, gathering the evidence for trial and which could send Pistorius to prison until he is older than 50, at least.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku told The Associated Press that the exact date for the trial in early 2014 had not yet been set and would likely be decided on Monday, Pistorius' next scheduled appearance at Pretoria Magistrate's Court. The trial will be at the capital city's High Court and be before a judge. South Africa has no trial by jury.

The indictment papers will be served and the prosecution will retain a main charge of premeditated murder, Simasiku said, while only conceding that other charges are "possible."

 

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