Pistorius to be charged with murder on his slain girlfriend’s birthday

Oscar Pistorius will be charged with premeditated murder on Monday and the double-amputee Olympian will go on trial in early 2014, about a year after shooting dead his girlfriend, prosecutors said.

In a sombre twist, Pistorius, known as the Blade Runner because of his artificial legs, will be indicted on the day the woman he killed, Reeva Steenkamp, would have celebrated her 30th birthday.

National prosecuting authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku said yesterday that the exact date for the trial had not yet been set and would likely be decided on Monday, Pistorius’ next appearance in court.