PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - A detective has testified that Oscar Pistorius is a flight risk and shouldn't be granted bail.
Hilton Botha also said in the star athlete's bail hearing Wednesday that Pistorius illegally possessed .38-caliber ammunition in a safe in his bedroom. Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder for the Valentine's Day shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp with a 9 mm pistol. The policeman testified that Pistorius did not have a license for a .38-caliber weapon and consequently possession of that ammunition was illegal.
Pistorius argued in a court affidavit Tuesday that the shooting was accidental and he thought the model was an intruder in his home.
The detective says all Pistorius would say after the shooting was "he thought it was a burglar."
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Previous story from 2/19/13
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - Oscar Pistorius says he shot his girlfriend to death by mistake, thinking she was a robber.
The double amputee said in an affidavit read by his lawyer at his bail hearing today that he felt vulnerable because he did not have on his prosthetic legs when he pumped bullets into the locked bathroom door.
Then he realized that model Reeva Steenkamp was not in his bed. He says "It filled me with horror and fear ..."
He put on his legs, tried to kick down the door, then bashed it in with a cricket bat to find Steenkamp shot inside.
Pistorius says he ran downstairs with her, but "She died in my arms."
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
