Oscar Pistorius murder case

The prosecution argues that Ms Steenkamp's death was the result of pre-meditated murder. The defence says there is no evidence of this and there is not even evidence of murder, and argues that Mr Pistorius should face a lesser charge, possibly of culpable homicide. From the outset the key area of dispute has been whether Mr Pistorius shot his girlfriend accidentally. Footage of Reeva Steenkamp in a reality TV show was broadcast on the weekend after her death Soon after the killing, police spokeswoman Denise Beuke dismissed suggestions that Ms Steenkamp "had been perceived to be a burglar". The prosecution and police argue that the athlete deliberately shot his girlfriend through a bathroom door at his home following an argument.

They say that she was hit in the right side of her head, her right hip and her right elbow.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that on the night of the killing Mr Pistorius got up, put on his prosthetic legs, walked seven metres (24ft) and fired his gun through the locked bathroom door.

He shot four times and hit Ms Steenkamp three times, he said. The defendant later broke down the bathroom door and carried the victim downstairs, Mr Nel said. The prosecution argued at Mr Pistorius's bail hearing on Wednesday that a witness had testified to hearing "non-stop talking like fighting" in the early hours of 14 February. The first officer to arrive on the scene - chief investigating officer Hilton Botha - later said another witness had testified to hearing screams and gunshots from the house.

"We have statement of a person who said after he heard gunshots, he went to his balcony and saw the light was on. Then he heard a female screaming two-three times, then more gunshots," Mr Botha told the court.

Mr Botha testified that he thought the bullets were fired "down", suggesting Mr Pistorius had his prosthetic legs on at the time of the killing - and adding weight to the prosecution's claim that the killing was pre-meditated.

But Mr Pistorius has given a very different version of events. Oscar Pistorius could face life in jail if found guilty He claims that he was asleep until only moments before the shooting, there was no argument between the couple and that he had "no intention" of killing his girlfriend. Mr Pistorius told his bail hearing that he woke in the middle of the night and went to the balcony because he heard what he thought was a robber in the bathroom.

According to a statement on Tuesday, Mr Pistorius fired through the bathroom door.

He said that he was walking on his stumps at the time - making him feel particularly vulnerable in the pitch dark.

The athlete said he fired the shots first, and only then realised Ms Steenkamp was not in bed.

He said he was "absolutely mortified" at her death.

His defence team argued that Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp were very much in love.

They have accused Det Botha of putting the "worst possible interpretation" on the evidence.

Under cross-examination, Det Botha admitted one witness who heard arguing at the house was in her own home hundreds of metres away.

The defence said the post-mortem examination showed Ms Steenkamp had an empty bladder consistent with someone getting up to go to the toilet, as detailed in the athlete's narrative.

A full trial of the 26-year-old Paralympic star is not expected for months.