Pistorius prosecution suffers reported setback

Originally published on February 21, 2014

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Prosecutors in South Africa working on the case against Paralympic Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius have admitted that the athlete may not have been wearing his prosthetic legs when he fired the shots that killed his girlfriend, removing a key argument for premeditated murder.

Pistorius, whose trial begins on March 3, denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, saying that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

Local television news channel eNCA has reportedly obtained a document that shows the state's own ballistics expert believe Pistorius was "most likely" on his stumps when he shot Steenkamp through the bathroom stall door.

During the bail hearing, prosecutors argued that Pistorius first took time to put on his prosthetic legs before shooting Steenkamp through the locked bathroom door, showing he was not panicked and that the shooting was premeditated.

The TV channel also reported that prosecutors believe guards at Pistorius's gated community called him after the shooting, and that he said if everything was OK and that he did not require any assistance.

Prosecutors also say that neighbors living less than 100 metres from Pistorius' house heard shouting on the night of the shooting.

Pistorius faces life in prison if he is convicted of premeditated murder.

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