Nothing to support burglar claim in Pistorius shooting: state

19 February 2013 - 12:23 By Sapa
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Oscar Pistorius leaves the court room after his hearing on charge of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. File photo.
Oscar Pistorius leaves the court room after his hearing on charge of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. File photo.
Image: AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

There was no possible information to support Oscar Pistorius' version that he mistook his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar, the State submitted at his bail application in Pretoria.

"There is no possible information to support his version that it was a burglar," said State prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Steenkamp, who was found dead at his home in Pretoria last Thursday, had arrived at the house between 5pm and 6pm on Wednesday night, February 13, Nel submitted to a packed court.

With Pistorius looking down, Nel said there were two people in the house.

Her overnight bag was there and a cosmetic bag was left in the bathroom.

He said Steenkamp was shot three times behind a closed bathroom door.

"The door was broken open from the outside," Nel told the court.

With Pistorius still looking at the floor, Nel said the State would say that the door was locked.

Nel said Steenkamp's body was carried downstairs.

He said Pistorius then said to a friend he thought she was a burglar.

Nel wanted to know why a burglar would lock himself in a bathroom.

"We say this in itself constitutes premeditated murder of a burglar," said Nel.

When he finished his argument, Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux stood up to argue why Pistorius should be granted bail.

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