Pretoria – Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius appeared in court in Pretoria on Tuesday for the resumption of a bail hearing after he was charged last week with murdering his girlfriend.

The 26-year-old appeared in the dock at the Pretoria court in a black suit, blue shirt and grey tie and stared straight ahead anxiously.

Magistrate Desmond Nair asked Pistorius how he felt. Pistorius shrugged and stared straight ahead.

After Pistorius was brought in, State prosecutor Gerrie Nel launched straight into the first official details of what allegedly led to the death of Pistorius’ girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

“There are objective facts that are not in dispute,” said Nel.

He said Steenkamp was shot three times behind a closed bathroom door.

Pistorius is charged with Steenkamp’s murder last Thursday.

Pistorius’s family was squashed between journalists in the packed court.

His brother Carl and sister Aimee barely spoke, as behind and around them at least 130 people were crammed into the court, which usually accommodates about 40 people, with more trying to get through the door.

Independent forensic pathologist for Pistorius, Reggie Perumal, also arrived shortly after 9.30am.

Pistorius was brought to court early from the Brooklyn police cells where he had been in custody since his first appearance on Friday.

He was brought in through a different entrance to the one used on Friday, mostly escaping the glare of international publicity.

His family had already run the gauntlet of crowds waiting outside the court and an official among those inside the court pleaded with the public and media for order.

“We can’t let one more person in. Please all step back now,” he said

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