Pistorius pre-trial hearing on Tuesday

A pre-trial hearing of track star Oscar Pistorius, seen here earlier this year, is set to begin on Tuesday.

The South African double amputee is accused of gunning down his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day.

Pistorious has admitted to shooting Steenkamp at his home in an upscale Pretoria neighbourhood.

But says he mistook her for an intruder, firing four shots through a closed bathroom door.

The killing shocked South Africa, where Pistorious was a national hero.

He was the first double-amputee to run at the Olympics and was seen the world over as a symbol of triumph over adversity.