The Oscar Pistorius trial is set to begin and things started up live on Monday in South Africa in the murder case of the Olympian's girlfriend in Reeva Steenkamp and coverage is live online and on TV, as the judge ruled in the case that it could be televised in large parts and comes a year after the incident occurred that shocked the world about the Olympics star.
Pistorius is the most high profile person to be on trial in South Africa in some time and he is considered a national and athletic hero worldwide and it was a stunning news when it came out last year that the track runner murdered his girlfriend. Pistorius claims that the shooting was a mistake and that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder in his home in the morning of February 14, Valentine's Day, and the track star killed her with gunshots through the bathroom door. Pistorius is claiming that it was a mistake, while prosecutors say the two fought and he shot her after that in a rage.
The first witnesses were called to the trial to testify in the case and the one that was called up to the stand early on reported how they heard screams in the morning that were filled with "fear". The man who testified said he heard the man shout for help as well and that he heard the gunshots and that cme after the track star originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in the trial and he was wearing a gray suit and a black tie for the first day.
The trial is being shown live on TV online and on television in South Africa and around the world and the prosecution has brought up evidence through the case that paints Pistorius as someone with a rage problem and an anger problem, especially with women. Pistorius and his lawyers claim the state has many holes in their case and that Pistorius was defending Steenkamp when the murder occurred, thinking that there was an intruder and that he feared for his life since he was not wearing his prosthetic legs and was not able to fully defend himself or his girlfriend.
Pistorius claims there were neighbors close to him that did not hear any arguments coming from his house with his girlfriend on the night of the murder and said that the police have false evidence. The mother of the victim said that she is ready to forgive Pistorius, but wants to see what he really did and the news media was covering the trial very heavily, with a big presence outside the courtroom. Pistorius is facing many years in jail and could get a sentence of 25 years or more depending on what the chargers are. There is a channel covering the trial in South Africa and look below for the Telegraph live coverage of the event.
