Court documents outline state’s case against Pistorius

The state's case against murder accused Oscar Pistorius comprises 13 elements, ranging from a neighbour's evidence to a website analysis of the South African Paralympian's browsing activity on the night he shot his girlfriend.

Court documents obtained by local media outline the key evidence the national prosecuting authority believes will prove the athlete murdered his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on St Valentine’s Day last year.

Mr Pistorius’s much-anticipated murder trial is scheduled to begin on March 3rd. The documents outlining the state’s case emerged following an application to the courts by the accused’s defence team for further evidence ahead of the trial.

Leaked document
The leaked document alleges the state has witnesses who heard a woman scream before and after shots were fired at Mr Pistorius's house, and a neighbour who believes she heard arguing at the gated-community premises in Pretoria in the hours before the murder.

The state also believes an analysis of Mr Pistorius’s website browsing during the evening of February 13th, 2013, does not portray a situation that reflects a loving couple spending time together.

Analysis of the shots fired through the bathroom door allegedly indicates an intention to kill the person behind the door, while the presence of mobile phones in the bathroom is said to be in contrast to Ms Steenkamp simply going to the toilet at night.

Apparently there is evidence that security guards at the gated community pho- ned Mr Pistorius after the shooting to see if there was a problem, and he allegedly said everything was fine and he did not require assistance.

Mr Pistorius (27) has admitted to shooting Ms Steenkamp (29) but maintains his innocence in relation to the charge of premeditated murder, claiming it was a tragic accident as he thought he was firing at an intruder.

According to Mr Pistorius, he woke in the middle of the night after hearing a noise and saw that his balcony door was open, and out of fear he picked up his gun and fired at an unidentified individual behind the door of the toilet cubicle. Ms Steenkamp was shot four times and died at the scene.

It appears the state has rowed back on some of the assertions it has made. News channel eNCA reported that prosecutors believe Mr Pistorius was not on his prosthetic legs when he shot Ms Steenkamp, as the police claimed during his bail hearing.