Pistorius murder trial underway

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

"Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty on Monday (March 3) to murdering his girlfriend at the start of a trial with massive media cover that could see one of global sports' most admired role models go to jail for life.

When asked how he would plead to the charges of the "unlawful and intentional killing" of 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, a sombre-looking Pistorius told judge Thokozile Masipa: "Not guilty, my lady."

Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, the Paralympic and Olympic runner also pleaded not guilty to several other firearms charges, including once discharging a pistol under the table of an upmarket Johannesburg restaurant.

The 27-year-old, who was born without legs but reached the 2012 Olympic 400 metres semi-final running on carbon-fibre "blades", argues that the killing of law graduate Steenkamp was a tragic case of mistaken identity.

He says he mistook