PRETORIA, South Africa—Escorted by police, Oscar Pistorius arrived early at a courthouse in South Africa's capital Tuesday for a bail hearing in the killing of his girlfriend.

Prosecutors say they will press a charge of premeditated murder against the 26-year-old double-amputee Paralympian and Olympic athlete. Pistorius' family says police evidence will show there should be no murder charge.


Journalists watched Pistorius, head covered with a hoodie, leave the police station and arrive at the back entrance to the courthouse in Pretoria, before 7 a.m. (0900 GMT).

Pistorius' brother Carl and longtime track coach Ampie Louw—the man who convinced Pistorius to take up athletics—were also in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court building, pointing out friends of the family that should be allowed in. Queue of dozens of people waited to go in that public entrance.




The bail hearing will be the first opportunity for the prosecution to describe evidence police gathered against the runner and the reasons why he was charged with murder.














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