Oscar Pistorius appears at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria on Feb. 19, 2013. (Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images)
PRETORIA, South Africa -- A South African prosecutor has charged Olympian Oscar Pistorius with the premeditated murder of his model girlfriend.
The prosecutor said Tuesday that Pistorius shot 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his home in a guarded and gated complex in the South African capital, Pretoria. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court the door had been broken open.
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The family of the 26-year-old Paralympian and Olympic athlete says police evidence will show there should be no murder charge in the Valentine's Day shooting.
Pistorius, in a gray suit, blue shirt and tie appeared grim and solemn in court. He nodded after the chief magistrate asked if he was well.
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Police arrived at Pistorius' home in the early hours of Valentine's Day and found the body of 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp with four bullet wounds. They were responding to neighbors' calls about shouting and gunshots. A 9 mm pistol was recovered.
(Associated Press)