Oscar Pistorius "thought girlfriend was a robber" PARALYMPIC star Oscar Pistorius shot dead his model girlfriend after mistaking her for a burglar, a court heard today. Pistorius opens defence with claim that athlete confused girlfriend for robber Defence claim that killing was not murder Prosecution argue that murder was premeditated Pistorius" lawyer read an affidavit to the court in which the Paralympic star gave his version of events. Pistorius claimed that he fired into his closed bathroom after feeling vulnerable as he was not wearing his prosthetic legs in bed at the time. He claims he then knocked down the bathroom door with a cricket bat, and found his girlfriend Reevan Steenkamp lying on the floor. The 26-year-old denied murder and said the couple were "deeply in love." The gold-medal winner, known as the Blade Runner for his prosthetic legs, appeared in a South African court for his second appearance over the death of Reeva Steenkamp. Prosecutor Garrie Nel told the hearing that Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times inside his Pretoria home on Thursday. Pistorius, 26, was formally charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend. The hearing that could reveal more details about the death of Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was remanded to a Pretoria police station after his first appearance in court on Friday, when prosecutors said they intended to pursue a case of premeditated murder against the South African athlete, which means he could face a life sentence. The court appearance comes on the same day as her funeral, expected to be a private service, after her body was returned to her home town of Port Elizabeth. Pistorius" arrest triggered shock across the globe and prompted rumours that he might have mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder in what could have been a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong. But police swiftly distanced themselves from that suggestion and said there had been previous incidents of a "domestic nature" at Pistorius" house. His family has vowed to fight the murder charge in the "strongest terms." Pistorius's management company has issued a statement announcing it had "no option" but to cancel all future races the double amputee was contracted to compete in. Managing agent Peet Van Zyl said the athlete's "key focus is defending himself against this serious charge." The BBC apologised for following a news story on Pistorius" trial with a Jimi Hendrix song about a man shooting his wife. 6Music followed their news bulletin with Hey Joe, by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song features the line: "Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand? I'm going out to shoot my old lady, you know I caught her messing around with another man.