Pistorius trial begins in March

South Africa

The trial of Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, charged with murder over the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will begin on March 3 2014.

Double-amputee Pistorius, 26 and known as "Blade Runner" for the prostheses he wears in competitions, fired four shots at Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day this year. He claims he was acting in self-defence against what he thought was an intruder. The State claims that he killed her deliberately after a blazing row.