South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius was formally charged with the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp early Monday morning. Steenkamp was fatally shot in February and due to the fact that multiple witnesses heard screams of a woman before gunshots were fired, prosecutors believe the 26-year-old is responsible for her death. According to USA Today, Pistorius was present in court for the indictment and as he was full of emotion, the six-time Paralympic Games Gold medalist learned that his court date is set for March 3, leaving his defense team more than 6 months to prepare for the upcoming court battle.
Taking place at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, a judge will determine whether or not the sprinter is innocent or guilty since the country does not have trial by jury. Prosecutors also believe that the case is one of premeditated murder, even though that term was not officially contained in the indictment. "When you talk of intentional, it's premeditated. Intentional," Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the prosecution said to ESPN. "He wanted to do that. In as far as a sound case, let the court decide on that. We believe it will go through in our favor."
As Yahoo Sports reports, the prosecution is set to outline Pistorius as an out-of-control athlete with a short temper, something that was on display in February when they believe the sprinter fatally shot his girlfriend. A formal list of 107 witnesses including friends of both Pistorius and Steenkamp will play a role in the trial and if found guilty, Pistorius faces at least 25 years in prison.
While he now prepares to enter what will surely be an emotionally charged trial, Pistorius remains focused on clearing his name and not returning to his beloved sport on a full-time basis, something the sprinter indicated in June on his website.
Oscar is not contemplating a formal return to athletics and his training is not aimed at preparing for competition. His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case. His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial.
Pistorius's legs were amputated below the knee when he was only 11 months old, but despite this tough advantage, the South African native became one of the top sprinters in the sport, earning the nickname "the fastest man on no legs." One of the main focal points of the trial will be determining whether or not the 26-year-old was using his prosthetics during the murder and the angle at which the bullets traveled could very well uncover the unknown.
In addition to the murder charge, Pistorius also faces a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
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