Scotland survived a second-half fightback to kick off their international season with a 44-38 win over Samoa at BT Murrayfield.

Oscar Pistorius removed his prosthetic legs in a South African courtroom as part of his defence team’s argument that the double-amputee athlete, convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, deserves leniency when he is sentenced on July 6.

Update: A South African judge has said she will announce Oscar Pistorius's sentence on July 6 for Reeva Steenkamp's murder.

The father of Reeva Steenkamp has told a South African court that her fatal shooting by boyfriend Oscar Pistorius has "devastated" his family, and that he thinks about her constantly.

Oscar Pistorius is a “broken” man who should not be jailed for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a psychologist told a court in South Africa, while a prosecutor argued that he has shown no remorse.

AN England Grand Slam only five months after their rugby world fell apart in their own global tournament just serves to show once again that, in sport, the pain of calamitous defeat can serve to inspire new beginnings.

Italy 20 Scotland 36: Jason O’Halloran hopes Scotland can shake off their mental shackles after finally halting their long RBS 6 Nations losing streak.

Scotland 9 England 15: Eddie Jones has urged England to build momentum behind their RBS 6 Nations quest by giving Italy a “good hiding” in Rome.

South Africa 34 Scotland 16: Stand-off Duncan Weir hopes his stunning second-half burst against South Africa on Saturday will help seal his place in coach Vern Cotter’s plans as Scotland look to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Scotland 45 Japan 10: The neutrals may have left Kingsholm disappointed not to have witnessed another monumental Rugby World Cup upset, but Scotland will not care one jot after this bonus-point success kicked their Pool B campaign off in the perfect fashion.

A South African judge will respond today to arguments on whether to allow prosecutors to appeal the verdict and sentence in the case against Oscar Pistorius, who was acquitted of the murder of his girlfriend.

A South African judge says she will respond to the prosecution’s appeal of the Oscar Pistorius verdict on Wednesday.

A South African prosecutor is arguing in court for an appeal in the case against Oscar Pistorius, who was acquitted of murder over the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius could still face a murder conviction and 15 years in prison for killing his girlfriend as prosecutors said yesterday they had consulted a South African criminal law expert over an appeal.

The chief prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius trial urged the judge to send the Olympic athlete to prison for at least 10 years, calling it the minimum acceptable term and noting the horrific nature of the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp.

The bullets fired by Oscar Pistorius from his powerful handgun "ripped" through Reeva Steenkamp's body, the chief prosecutor said at the athlete's sentencing hearing today.

Oscar Pistorius offered $34,000 (€26,857) to the family of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after he killed her, but the family rejected the funds because they did not want "blood money", a prosecutor said at the sentencing hearing for the double-amputee athlete.

Oscar Pistorius offered 375,000 South African rand (€26,785) to the family of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after he killed her, but they rejected it because they did not want “blood money”, the double-amputee athlete’s sentencing hearing has been told.

Oscar Pistorius is being portrayed as a "poor victim" ahead of his sentencing for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a prosecutor has said.

South African track star Oscar Pistorius should serve three years of partial house arrest and community service for the negligent killing of his girlfriend, a witness said at the first day of the athlete’s sentencing.

Oscar Pistorius is a “broken man” after killing his girlfriend because he lost the woman he loved as well as his reputation, friends, income and sense of self-worth, a psychologist has told his sentencing hearing.

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Oscar Pistorius’ "primal instincts" kicked in when he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp because he was in a vulnerable and fearful state, his defence lawyer said at the athlete’s murder trial yesterday.

South African state prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked the judge in Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial to reject the Olympic and Paralympic track star’s defence as "devoid of any truth".

Oscar Pistorius was an “appalling witness” who repeatedly lied in his testimony in a crude attempt to defend himself against a murder charge over killing his girlfriend, the chief prosecutor at his trial has said.

The defence team for Oscar Pistorius plans to close its case this morning after its last witness, a physician who has treated the athlete, completed his testimony at the murder trial, a lawyer said.

The defence team for Oscar Pistorius plans to close its case after its last witness completed his testimony at the murder trial today, a lawyer said.

Double-amputee Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius can’t flee dangerous situations and has a "heightened fight response" due to his disability, a defence witness told his murder trial.

Oscar Pistorius is a “paradox” whose past triumphs as a sprinter contrasted with the daily, severe limitations he endured because of his disability, a physician has told the athlete’s murder trial.

A panel of mental health experts has concluded that Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental illness when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home last year, the chief prosecutor at the athlete’s murder trial said.

The chief prosecutor in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has said the athlete should be placed under psychiatric observation after an expert called by the defence said Pistorius has an anxiety disorder.

A ballistics expert has told the Oscar Pistorius murder trial that his analysis of the scene where the Olympic athlete shot Reeva Steenkamp differs from the reconstruction of the shooting by police investigators.

A social worker and probation officer who visited Oscar Pistorius in a police cell the day after he shot dead Reeva Steenkamp has given evidence at the athlete’s murder trial.

Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial resumed yesterday with a neighbour and friend giving a heart-wrenching account of discovering the "broken" athlete coming down the stairs, holding his dead girlfriend in his arms.

A star pathologist hired by Oscar Pistorius has said he will not testify at the athlete’s murder trial, another blow for the defence after a week of savage cross-examination.

The prosecutor at the murder trial of double-amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius is continuing his cross-examination of one of the defence’s forensic experts.

The prosecution derided a forensic expert hired by Oscar Pistorius, accusing him of being unqualified to testify and rubbishing his account of the circumstances of Reeva Steenkamp’s death.