Prosecutors, defense differ on whether Pistorius put on artifici - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Prosecutors, defense differ on whether Pistorius put on artificial legs before shooting

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PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - Prosecutors and Oscar Pistorius' defense outlined very different versions of what happened at the Olympic runner's home on Valentine's Day, when his girlfriend was shot and killed.

At a hearing in Pretoria, South Africa, Pistorius portrayed himself as a lover caught in tragedy, saying he thought Reeva Steenkamp was an intruder when he fired shots through a bathroom door.

Prosecutors said there's "no possible explanation" to back up Pistorius' claim. They say the double-amputee planned the slaying, firing mercilessly as Steenkamp cowered behind the locked door after the couple had engaged in a shouting match.

Steenkamp was mourned at a memorial service today. The model had campaigned actively against domestic violence.

A study by the Medical Research Council finds South Africa has some of the world's worst rates of violence against females, and the highest rate in the world of women killed by an intimate partner.