BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE famous Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius, has appeared in court one year after he was charged for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot to death on Valentines Day 2013.
The South African athlete has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial after he shot dead the 29-year-old model at his home, claiming he mistook her for an intruder.
According to the BBC witness, Michelle Burger, said she heard cries for help which were followed by shots.
"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help."
Burger said she called security and then heard four gunshots.
Ms Burger told the court she lived nearby on a neighbouring gated estate to Mr. Pistorius in Pretoria - and she and her husband were sleeping with the windows open.
"It was very traumatic for me. You could hear blood curdling screams."
Pistorius’ lawyer read a statement, giving his version of events of how Steenkamp died, claiming he believed his girlfriend was in bed when he shot at the toilet door in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year.
According to the BBC “He has also been charged with illegally possessing ammunition.
“There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa.”
On the anniversary of the shooting, Pistorius released a statement in which he said: "The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life."
The BBC's Andrew Harding in the courtroom said Mr Pistorius looked calm, or at least neutral as he arrived in court - a far cry from the emotional wreck he seemed at the bail hearing last year.
Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades after he was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics.
The athlete reached the 400m semi-finals in the London 2012 Olympics and won gold in the T44 400m, setting a Paralympic record.
The runner, who had his limbs amputated below the knee when he was just 11 months old, had to win a 2008 legal battle with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to race in able-bodied competition.
