The Olympic superstar appeared in a South African court Tuesday where he explained that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, because he mistakenly suspected she was an intruder. Prosecutors, however, aren't buying it. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.
By Rohit Kachroo, Michelle Kosinski and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News
PRETORIA, South Africa -- Witnesses heard a "non-stop" argument at the home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius shortly before he fatally shot his girlfriend, prosecutors told a South African court Wednesday.
Shouting was heard for an hour from the sprinter's home in a Pretoria suburb around 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, prosecutors said.
The Paralympic gold medalist was brought into the court wearing a black suit and blue tie on the second day of a hearing that will decide whether he would be bailed over charges that the shooting of model Reeva Steenkamp was premeditated.
"Good morning, your worship," the double-amputee said, before taking a seat in the crowded court.
A South African police investigator also told the hearing that none of the phones found at Pistorius' house had been used to call police.
Pistorius, 26, stared fixedly at the floor and cried as the investigator described the scene when officers arrived at the house.
The investigator said Steenkamp's body was clothed and covered in towels, and that one bullet cartridge was discovered in the hallway of Pistorius' home, with three more found in the bathroom. A firearm was found on the shower mat.
The investigator said he wants to charge Pistorius with possession of unlicenced ammunition, according to Reuters.
The hearing is expected to conclude by the end of the week.
On the first day of the hearing, prosecutors and the defense presented clashing accounts of how and why Pistorius shot the 29-year-old law graduate.
Dubbed the "Blade Runner," Pistorius maintains he fired into his locked bathroom in a panic over a possible prowler.
However, prosecutors alleged he calmly put on his artificial legs before he stalked Steenkamp to the bathroom to kill her.
A court statement from Pistorius denied "in the strongest terms" that he had deliberately killed Steenkamp, adding that the athlete was "deeply in love'' with her, according to Reuters.
"I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said.
Pistorius has hired his own high-profile forensic expert to analyze the police reports and post-mortem exam, South Africa news station ENCA reported.
His defense team includes lawyer Kenny Oldwage, who previously won an acquittal for a driver accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-grandchild in a 2010 accident.
NBC News' Tracy Connor and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related:
Pistorius: I felt 'sense of terror' on night I mistakenly shot girlfriend
Sportscaster: Pistorius was 'jumpy' about safety
Mother of Pistorius' slain girlfriend: 'Why my little girl?'
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 20, 2013 3:34 AM EST
By Rohit Kachroo, Michelle Kosinski and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News
PRETORIA, South Africa -- Witnesses heard a "non-stop" argument at the home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius shortly before he fatally shot his girlfriend, prosecutors told a South African court Wednesday.
Shouting was heard for an hour from the sprinter's home in a Pretoria suburb around 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, prosecutors said.
The Paralympic gold medalist was brought into the court wearing a black suit and blue tie on the second day of a hearing that will decide whether he would be bailed over charges that the shooting of model Reeva Steenkamp was premeditated.
"Good morning, your worship," the double-amputee said, before taking a seat in the crowded court.
A South African police investigator also told the hearing that none of the phones found at Pistorius' house had been used to call police.
Pistorius, 26, stared fixedly at the floor and cried as the investigator described the scene when officers arrived at the house.
The investigator said Steenkamp's body was clothed and covered in towels, and that one bullet cartridge was discovered in the hallway of Pistorius' home, with three more found in the bathroom. A firearm was found on the shower mat.
The investigator said he wants to charge Pistorius with possession of unlicenced ammunition, according to Reuters.
The hearing is expected to conclude by the end of the week.
On the first day of the hearing, prosecutors and the defense presented clashing accounts of how and why Pistorius shot the 29-year-old law graduate.
Dubbed the "Blade Runner," Pistorius maintains he fired into his locked bathroom in a panic over a possible prowler.
However, prosecutors alleged he calmly put on his artificial legs before he stalked Steenkamp to the bathroom to kill her.
A court statement from Pistorius denied "in the strongest terms" that he had deliberately killed Steenkamp, adding that the athlete was "deeply in love'' with her, according to Reuters.
"I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said.
Pistorius has hired his own high-profile forensic expert to analyze the police reports and post-mortem exam, South Africa news station ENCA reported.
His defense team includes lawyer Kenny Oldwage, who previously won an acquittal for a driver accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-grandchild in a 2010 accident.
NBC News' Tracy Connor and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related:
Pistorius: I felt 'sense of terror' on night I mistakenly shot girlfriend
Sportscaster: Pistorius was 'jumpy' about safety
Mother of Pistorius' slain girlfriend: 'Why my little girl?'
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 20, 2013 3:34 AM EST