Oscar Pistorius arrives in court to be charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius has appeared in court to be formally charged with the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Wiping tears from his eyes, a visibly emotional Pistorius stood in the dock at a packed Pretoria Magistrates' Court as he waited to be formally indicted for premeditated murder - on the exact day Ms Steenkamp would have turned 30.

The 26-year-old Paralympian is accused of shooting Ms Steenkamp to death on Valentine's night, but claims he opened fire on the 29-year-old after mistaking her for an intruder.

A spokeswoman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said: 'We expect that the indictment will be finalised and ready to be served to Oscar Pistorius on Monday August 19.'

The prosecution will retain a main charge of premeditated murder. If convicted, Pistorius faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Ms Steenkamp's parents previously said they are still searching for answers.

In a television interview in June, June Steenkamp said: 'There is only one person who knows what happened' on the night her daughter was killed.

Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp's uncle has said he has already forgiven Oscar Pistorius for killing her.

Mike Steenkamp said the family have coped with her death by concentrating on her life rather than how she died.

In an interview on ITV's Daybreak, Mr Steenkamp said: 'I think from the beginning and onset that we decided that we could never be sidetracked from Reeva's life, and I think that's helped us tremendously.

'I just think of Reeva's life. How happy she was, and what she actually meant to the family. Not only to her own parents, but to her cousins and myself and my wife. She was an exceptional person.'
He said he has forgiven Pistorius, who is due to appears at Pretoria Magistrates' Court today, for killing his niece because of his firm believe in God.

He added that the family have not faced the Paralympic champion in court but would want to know the outcome of the case.

'We haven't attended anything and we haven't actually applied our minds to the court case or Oscar's side,' he said.

'I know my brother and his wife would like to know at the end of the day why, quite rightly so. And I think that will come out.'

Pistorius's friend Mike Kendrick also appeared on the programme and said his loved ones were worried about his mental state.

'He's not doing well,' he said.