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                     Pistorius Facing Pre-Meditated Murder

   South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius faces a charge of
   pre-meditated murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend
   Reeva Steenkamp.
   A magistrate ruled during a hearing Tuesday in Pretoria that
   premeditation cannot be excluded, but that the charge could be
   downgraded later. Pre-meditated murder carries a possible life
   sentence, and Pistorius broke down crying as the magistrate spoke.
   His defense argued the shooting early last Thursday at his home was an
   accident, not murder, and that he should be set free on bail.
   Prosecutors offered a different account, saying Pistorius put on his
   prosthetic legs, walked seven meters across his bedroom and shot four
   times through a locked bathroom door.
   Investigators have said Steenkamp was shot by a 9-millimeter pistol
   registered to Pistorius.
   Her family held a private funeral Tuesday in Port Elizabeth while the
   hearing was taking place.
   The bail hearing continues Wednesday.
   Pistorius is regarded as a sports hero and national icon in South
   Africa. He made history in August when he became the first double
   amputee to run at the Olympics.
   He is known as the "blade runner" for competing on high-tech artificial
   legs.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pistorius-facing-premeditated-murder/
   1606338.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pistorius-facing-premeditated-murder/1606338.html