Oscar Pistorius to stand trial next March on murder charge

Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius will stand trial in March next year on the charge of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The 26-year-old returned to court in Pretoria, South Africa today to be formally charged with the murder of the model, who was shot dead through a bathroom door in Pistorius's home on Valentine's Day.

Around 30 minutes after arriving in court, the double amputee, who has admitted to shooting Steenkamp but insists that he committed the crime thinking that she was an intruder, was informed of a trial date from March 3 to March 20.

The police investigation has been completed and prosecutors believe that they have enough evidence to formally charge the athlete with murder.

Pistorius, who has been on bail since March, does not need to enter a plea until the case reaches the High Court next year.