Oscar Pistorius scared girlfriend into hiding before shooting her, prosecutor says

Olympian track star Oscar Pistorius faced prosecutors Tuesday, who alleged he purposely shot and killed his celebrity model girlfriend following a shouting match that left her cowering and hiding behind a bathroom door.

Mr. Pistorius — the “Blade Runner,” who rose to prominence by becoming the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics — was formally charged with premeditated murder, according to an Associated Press report.

“She couldn’t go anywhere. You can run nowhere,” prosecutor Gerrie Nel said, describing the alleged plight of Reeva Steenkamp in the moments before the Valentine's Day shooting, according to AP.

The prosecutor painted this picture at the hearing: The couple argued in the bedroom and Ms. Steenkamp fled to the bathroom and locked the door. Mr. Pistorius then got up from the bed, put on his prosthetic legs and walked to the bathroom door. He then allegedly shot at Ms. Steenkamp through the door, and broke the door open after firing, AP reports.

Investigators previously reported Mr. Pistorius shot his girlfriend through a bathroom door. He had initially claimed the shooting was an accident — that he mistook his girlfriend for an unwelcome intruder at his South African home. AP reported that Mr. Pistorius sobbed at Tuesday’s hearing, as his attorney attempted to again make that argument.

On Monday, various media reported investigators had found what appeared to be evidence of steroid use at the track star’s home.

Ms. Steenkamp was an internationally known model and rising reality television star, as well as a law school graduate, according to AP.

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