Oscar Pistorius 'thought he was firing at intruder'

South African athletics star Oscar Pistorius has denied murdering his girlfriend, and said he thought he was firing at an intruder when he shot her at his home.

He told a bail hearing that he loved her and never intended to kill her.

Prosecutors accuse him of premeditated murder. They told the Pretoria court that Mr Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp dead by firing though a bathroom door.

The hearing came as the victim's family held a funeral for her.

Tuesday's hearing began with the prosecution giving its account of the killing, which it says was premeditated murder by the 26-year-old athlete.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that on the evening of 14 February, Mr Pistorius - a double amputee - had got up from bed, put on his prostheses, and fired his gun through the door of the small bathroom.

He shot four times and hit Ms Steenkamp three times, Mr Nel said.

He added that the defendant later broke down the bathroom door and carried the body downstairs, Mr Nel added.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux then read a sworn statement from Mr Pistorius, saying the couple had decided to spend that evening at home.

They were in the bedroom when at one point Oscar Pistorius went to the balcony and heard a noise, the statement said.

"It was pitch-dark in the bedroom," it added. "I did not have my prosthetic legs on and felt extremely vulnerable."

According to the statement, the defendant thought Ms Steenkamp was still in bed, and he fired through the bathroom door believing he was shooting at an intruder.

When he realised Ms Steenkamp was not in the bed, "it filled me with horror and fear", it said.

Mr Pistorius broke the door down with a cricket bat to find his girlfriend shot inside, the statement said.

The athlete was sobbing in court, correspondents say.

The hearing was later adjourned until Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the private funeral for the 29-year-old former model was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth.

Her father, Barry Steenkamp, told reporters: "We have to keep Reeva in our hearts forever".

Her brother Adam said there was "a space missing" inside all the people she knew.

The case has aroused huge interest both in South Africa, where Oscar Pistorius is regarded as a national hero, and around the world.

He is a multiple Paralympic champion, winning gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens, at Beijing 2008 and at London 2012.

In London he made history by becoming the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, progressing to the semi-finals of the 400m.

BBC.