Pistorius back in the dock over lover's killing

South Africa's Paralympic hero Oscar Pistorius is due back in court on Tuesday for the first time since being freed on bail in February over the killing of his model girlfriend. The Pretoria magistrate's court could set a date for the trial of the star sprinter who is accused of murdering Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day at his upmarket home in the South African capital. Tuesday's hearing comes just days after a British television channel broadcast leaked crime scene pictures showing the blood-spattered bathroom where Steenkamp was fatally shot by Pistorius multiple times through a locked door. The court session is expected to be brief, with both the defence and prosecution seeking a postponement as the police try to wrap up their investigation by August. The court will be told about the progress of the investigation and the matter is most likely to be postponed for trial," said lawyer Kenny Oldwage, one of the leading lights in Pistorius's high-profile defence team. The prosecution has accused the 26-year-old of premeditated murder, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. But the athlete claims he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder in a "terrible accident" and the defence wants the charge reduced to culpable homicide, which risks up to 15 years behind bars. Steenkamp, 29, who had been dating Pistorius for just a few months, suffered gunshot wounds to her head, elbow and hip. The case is bound to be one of the country's most sensational trials, similar to that of American footballer and actor O.J. Simpson who was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife in 1994. Courts in South Africa, one of the world's most violent countries, have a huge backlog of rape and murder cases. But some observers have suggested that Pistorius may get preferential treatment and a possible fast-tracking of his case. The Johannesburg-born Paralympic champion became an inspirational hero to millions as the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied competitors at the London Olympics last year. Since the killing, details emerged of his rocky private life of rash behaviour, beautiful women, guns and fast cars, although his aunt was quoted in the media this week as saying he has turned to reading the bible. He admitted in an interview with British newspaper last year that he slept with a pistol, machine gun, cricket bat and baseball bat for fear of burglars. His family said Monday it was shaken by the graphic crime scene photos showing bloodstains on the toilet seat and surrounding floor and the bathroom door marked with two bullet holes just below the handle. However it said it continues to have "great faith" in the country's justice system and believes "that Oscar's account of what happened on that terrible night in February will be borne out by the evidence". The position of the bullet holes appears to back Pistorius's claim that he fired the shots while standing on his leg stumps, using a gun he kept under his bed. The police have said they do not know the source of the pictures, but that the leaks would not jeopardise their case. The "traumatised" athlete openly wept when he first appeared in court after his arrest, which sent shock waves throughout the world and brought his stellar career to an abrupt halt. His agent said last month would not be racing this season as he had to focus on the court case and was not "mentally and physically ready" to compete at high level. Pistorius was freed on bail of one million rand (100,000 dollars or 78,000 euros) and in March the court lifted a raft of stringent conditions including a travel ban and mandatory drug and alcohol tests. He has lost lucrative contracts with US sportswear giant Nike and French cosmetics firm Clarins, among others, and has reportedly also been fined about one million rand for undeclared taxes.