Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African athlete, who is accused of shooting the model at his home in Pretoria on 14 February 2013, insisted he was not guilty of "wilful and intentional murder" as his highly-mediatised trial began today (03.03.14).
His lawyer read out a statement from the 27-year-old athlete, describing how he mistook her for an intruder and allegedly believed Reeva was in bed when he shot at the toilet door in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year.
Meanwhile, state prosecutors claim the killing was premeditated and called upon the first witness, Oscar's neighbour Michelle Burger.
The woman, who has requested that her testimony not be televised, alleged she awoke hearing a woman's screams and heard a call for help.
The double amputee, who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, displayed a poker face as he appeared in court earlier today, where he was supported by his uncle, brother and sister, according to the BBC.
Oscar released a statement on the anniversary of the incident saying: "The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life."
He could face life behind bars if he is found guilty of premeditated murder by Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa. The trial continues.

Madonna sparkled in 1,000 carats of diamonds at her Oscars afterparty.
The 'Material Girl' hitmaker wore Neil Lane jewels, including diamond and platinum bracelets and earrings, and she accessorised her outfit for the bash which followed the prestigious ceremony yesterday (02.03.14).
She posted an image on Instagram of herself in a red gown, with her blonde hair in lose waves, with a headpiece, with bright red lipstick, as she pulled a pose for the shot
She added the caption: "The Oscar goes to Party ## 7!!!!! #revolutionoflove (sic)"
Madonna hosted her annual private Oscars after party at manager Guy Oseary's mansion and the A-List event was tight on security with a number of staff helping guests check-in.
A source told Usmagazine.com: "There was tons of security and tons of staff checking people in."
She wasn't the only Hollywood star to don diamonds.
Oscar presenter Anne Hathaway opted for a black Gucci gown, and wore 100-carats of diamond, estimated $1 million, and platinum bracelets.
While 'American Hustle' actress Jennifer Lawrence - who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress but beaten by '12 Years A Slave' star Lupita Nyong'o - donned a beautiful crystal diamond and platinum necklace, worth approximately $2 million.

'EastEnders' character Nick Cotton will be killed off.
The Walford bad boy is set to meet his maker in an off-screen death that will usher in the arrival of his son Charlie Cotton, played by theatre actor Declan Bennett.
Soap stalwart Dot Branning (June Brown) will receive a visit from police officers later this month, who break the tragic news to her that Nick - played by John Altman - has died.
The nefarious character was last seen in the BBC One soap in 2009 when he set fire to the café.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's the call that Dot always knew she would get one day - that Nick is dead. But when it comes she's still devastated. Nick has put her through so much over the years. He really is the soap's original villain."
Charlie will then arrive in Albert Square, much to the shock of his grandmother Dot, who has no idea he exists.
The introduction of Nick's son will leave Dot and other Walford residents wondering whether the newcomer is trustworthy or as villainous as his father.
Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is quoted by RadioTimes.com as saying: "With Dot feeling increasingly alone in the world, Charlie's surprise appearance means that she finally has some blood whom she can trust. But should she?"

Molly Smitten-Downes is being tipped to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The little-known singer is heavily rumoured to be announced as this year's entrant in the annual singing competition after being discovered through BBC Introducing, an initiative to discover unsigned music talent.
The 26-year-old songstress was named on social media last night (02.03.14) by people who attended a music video shoot in London. Her Eurovision song is reportedly named 'Children of the Universe'.
Eurovision producers opted to find a talented unsigned act to represent Britain this year through the BBC Introducing programme. Molly came to the attention of talent scouts when she submitted her song 'Strange Alien' to the BBC last year.
The decision comes after well-known artists such as Bonnie Tyler - who came in 19th place last year - and Engelbert Humperdinck failed to win votes in previous years.
BBC's Eurovision producer Guy Freeman recently revealed this year's song will be tailored for the contest.
He said: "We took the view that we needed a bespoke, contemporary song, written specifically to suit the conditions of the competition - rather than trying to get lucky with a pre-existing track from an artist."
He added of the finished song: "The end result is that we now have a powerful and impressive song that we hope will do us proud in Copenhagen."
This year's Eurovision entrant and song will be unveiled through the BBC Red Button service tonight (03.03.14) at 7.30pm.
The 2014 Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by Denmark on May 10.

The BBC has ordered a third series of 'Wizards vs Aliens'.
The CBBC sci-fi show - which was created by former 'Doctor Who' executive producer Russell T. Davies - has been commissioned for a brand new series to begin airing later this year.
The action-packed show follows young wizard Tom Clarke (Scott Haran) and his pal Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott) as they battle the villainous Nekross, who threaten to destroy the universe and all of wizardkind in their pursuit of magic.
Cheryl Taylor, BBC's controller of CBBC, said: "CBBC is the home of thrilling and inspiring drama for children and 'Wizards vs Aliens' is a perfect example of that. The series is vivid and brave and our audience loves the portrayal of loyal friendship alongside exciting alien battles and stunning wizardry.
"Children want to talk about Tom, Benny and the Nekross and we know they'll be delighted to hear a third series is being conjured up by the talented team in Wales."
The latest series will see Tom and Benny encounter a new alien race and lots of exciting new magical creatures.
Production on the third series of 'Wizards vs Aliens' will begin next month, and the series will air across 2014 and 2015.

Bastille's second album will have more of a hip-hop sound.
The band shot to fame with their hit single 'Pompeii' last year and continued to impress with their debut album 'Bad Blood', but frontman Dan Smith claims the follow up to their first album will sound very different due to collaborations with hip-hop artists such as Angel Haze - who they've teamed up with on new track 'Weapons'.
He said: "We are touring with Angel Haze and we have recorded some stuff together too. Maybe it's not the most obvious fit but she's an intelligent rapper with insightful lyrics."
The 26-year-old singer-songwriter claims the change in sound will reflect the kind of music he and his bandmates - Kyle Simmons, Will Farquarson and Chris "Woody" Wood - like to listen to and who they are influenced by.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "The second album will be much clearer as to what our influences are. If more drastically all over the place, in a good way.
"I still sneak off and sing into my phone but we are writing more collaboratively at sound checks too this time."
Dan also admitted that despite winning the Best British Breakthrough Act award at the BRITs last month, they still haven't come to terms with their success, and he says they're nervous about their homecoming show at London's Alexandra Palace on Thursday (06.03.14).
He added: "We never imagined we'd get to play Ally Pally, as someone who has grown up in London and seen bands like Sigur Ros there - it's nuts."

The Klaxons are releasing their new album 'Love Frequency' in June.
The new rave indie rockers have confirmed the details of their upcoming third studio album, which they will be supporting with a low-key four-date UK tour.
The band have teamed up with James Murphy, Gorgon City, Erol Alkan and The Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands on the record, which is the follow-up to 2010's 'Surfing The Void', and is being released on June 2 through Akashic Records.
The 'Golden Skans' hitmakers burst onto the scene in 2007 with their debut album 'Myths of the Near Future'.
The Klaxons have been absent from the music scene in recent times, with co-vocalist and keyboardist James thrust into the spotlight for tying the knot with Hollywood beauty Keira Knightley.
The news follows the preview of new single 'There Is No Other Time' last month.
Tickets for the mini tour across Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester go on sale at 10am this Friday (07.03.14).
Lead vocalist Jamie Reynolds recently told NME: "This record is very much about the present, an emotionally honest album about technological and personal progression."

The Klaxons tour dates are as follows:
March 31 - Hare & Hounds Birmingham
April 1 - Kings Tut, Glasgow
April 2 - Oslo, London
April 3 - Ruby Lounge, Manchester

Arnold Schwarzenegger is "really looking forward" to working on the 'Terminator: Genesis'.
The 66-year-old star was forced to step down from participating in the franchise while he was the Governor of California between 2003 - 2011, but is delighted to reprise the role he first played in 1984's 'The Terminator' in the latest film.
He explained: "I'm really looking forward to that because as you know, the last time when they did 'The Terminator' it was when I was governor and so I couldn't be in that movie, but now I'm back again and they are very excited about having me in the film.
"The script is fantastic, so I'm really looking forward to this film."
Schwarzenegger is preparing to begin filming in a number of locations across the US from April.
Talking at the Arnold Sports Festival​ in Columbus, website TheArnoldFans.com report he said: "We start filming in the middle or in the end of April and it will be a four or four-and-a-half month long shoot. We will be filming it in New Orleans, with some of it in San Francisco and maybe a little of it in LA, but most of it will be done in New Orleans."
'Terminator: Genesis' is being directed by 'Thor: The Dark World' filmmaker Alan Taylor and is set for release on July 2015.

Matthew McConaughey used cornmeal on his face to recreate a rash common in AIDS suffers for 'Dallas Buyers Club'.
The Oscar-winning actor encouraged his make-up artist, Robin Mathews, to smother his face with the porridge-like mixture in order to replicate the skin condition while he was playing AIDS victim Ron Woodroof and she is "glad" it worked out.
Speaking backstage at the Academy Awards on Sunday (02.03.14) Mathews said: "[I said] I can't put cornmeal and grits on your face, dude,' and Matthew [McConaughey] said, 'you have to do this'. I'm really glad it worked out. I thought it might be the end of my career."
Jared Leto - who picked up Best Supporting Male for his role as a HIV positive transvestite Rayon in the drama - praised Mathews and hairstylist, Adruitha Lee, on their win for Best Make-up and Hairstyling at the ceremony despite the stringent budget they had for costumes.
He said: "They literally had a budget of $250 and they worked the hardest. They are the first to set. They show up at the crack-ass of dawn and they leave at the crack-ass of dawn."
Meanwhile, Mathews claims Leto and McConaughey's dedication to portraying the characters perfectly encouraged them to provide the best make-up they could.
She added: "Everybody knows they [the lead actors] lost almost 50 pounds, [it was a] labor of love. [We thought] They are bringing their A game - we have to do it for them."

Nick Grimshaw was rushed to hospital this morning (03.02.14) after swallowing glass.
The BBC Radio 1 presenter was forced to abandon his Breakfast show programme 40 minutes early when he was taken to a London hospital for an X-ray after accidentally swallowing shards of glass which were inside his mug.
Nick - who has now been given the all-clear wrote on Twitter: "Went to hospy, had X-rays, coughed it up, all fine now (sic)."
The 29-year-old DJ - who took over the Breakfast Show helm after Chris Moyles made the move to Radio 2 - also joked that his accident could land him a new job.
He added: "I can eat glass in a circus now if all else fails."
The presenter - who is often referred to as 'Grimmy' - was accompanied by a member of staff from the station, and the incident is now being investigated, the BBC have said.
In his absence, Nick was helped out by Radio 1 veteran Fearne Cotton, whose time-slot begins after the breakfast show, as she took to the mic early and reassured listeners that he'd be ok.
She said: "He's going to be absolutely fine. He's just gone to hospital to have a little check."
This morning was Nick's first day back in the studio since returning from a trip to Kenya for Sport Relief, and the DJ is set to take part in a 12-hour cycle ride inside a transparent box outside the BBC's broadcasting house in London, as part of the BBC'S Radio Around the World for Sport Relief later this month.

Lupita Nyong'o hopes she never forgets this year's Oscars.
The 31-year-old actress was thrilled to pick up the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in '12 Years a Slave' and admitted she was having an incredible evening.
Asked after her victory last night (02.03.14) what she will most remember about the ceremony, she said: "I don't know yet. I'm still living it. I hope I remember it all."
Earlier in the evening, Lupita joined a number of stars including Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to pose for a 'selfie' with host Ellen DeGeneres and her brother Peter was thrilled to also squeeze into the picture.
She told E! News: "I think that's his win for sure. He got into the most famous selfie in the world. I'm glad I could have facilitated that."
Lupita has won praise for her blue Prada gown, which she helped design after taking inspiration from champagne bubbles.
She explained: "It was designed for me. I had a hand in it, and my stylist, and we were inspired by champagne bubbles because this is cause for celebration, don't you think?"

Jennifer Lawrence fears her falls at the Oscars could be seen as a "gimmick".
The 'American Hustle' actress - who tripped on the steps as she accepted the Best Actress prize at last year's Academy Awards - fell as she walked the carpet at last night's (02.03.14) Oscars and admitted she is worried some people will think she is being clumsy on purpose.
She told 'Access Hollywood' as she entered the Dolby Theatre: "I'm afraid that like - I got so scared and I hope nobody took a picture, because I'm afraid it's going start looking like a gimmick."
Asked if she thought it could be a good omen for her picking up the Best Supporting Actress prize - which eventually went to Lupita Nyong'o - she added: "Well, I don't' think that means anything. I fall all the time."
The 23-year-old beauty - who was helped to her feet by her boyfriend and 'X Men: First Class' co-star Nicholas Hoult - stumbled after falling on a cone.
She explained: "I don't know how it happened so fast. I wasn't even at the press yet.
"But there was a cone outside my car and yeah, I ran over the cone,"
Jennifer had also admitted she had tested walking in her gown and high-heeled shoes ahead of the ceremony.
She said: "This year I actually did a stair test out on the back staircase and got it a little dusty, but it worked.
"But I did trip over a cone, so I guess...I'm not safe."