Pistorius Put Legs on to Shoot Reeva: Prosecutor

Argues Steenkamp's death was premeditated as she's cremated in hometown
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 19, 2013 4:44 AM CST
Updated Feb 19, 2013 8:45 AM CST
Prosecutor: Pistorius Shot Girlfriend Through Door
People arrive for the funeral of Reeva Steenkamp in Port Elizabeth, South Africa today.   (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Oscar Pistorius put on his artificial legs to walk to the bathroom where girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp had fled after an argument and then fired into the locked door, hitting her three times, a prosecutor said at a dramatic court hearing today. Pistorius sobbed at the bail hearing as the prosecutor made the case for premeditated murder, the AP reports. "If I arm myself, walk a distance, and murder a person, that is premeditated," the prosecutor said, adding that in the tiny bathroom, "She couldn't go anywhere. You can run nowhere. It must have been horrific." The defense attorney disputed the murder charge, saying of the shooting, "Was it to kill her, or was it to get her out? All we really know is she locked herself behind the toilet door and she was shot."

  • The hearing adjourned without a bail decision, CNN reports. Pistorius will spend the night in jail until it resumes tomorrow morning.
  • As the hearing took place in Pretoria, Steenkamp was cremated at a ceremony in Port Elizabeth, where the grief was mixed with anger, Reuters reports. "She was an angel. She was so soft, so innocent. Such a lovely person. It's just sad that this could happen to somebody so good," said an ex-jockey who worked for Steenkamp's father. "He must be dealt with harshly," he said of Pistorius. "Without a doubt he's a danger to the public."
  • The Olympic and Paralympic star stands to lose his medals as well as his freedom, reports the New York Daily News. The World Anti-Doping Agency says it is aware of reports steroids were found in Pistorius' home and it is following the case closely.
(More Oscar Pistorius stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X