Oscar Pistorius to face two added gun charges at murder trial Oscar Pistorius, the South African Olympic and Paralympic track star, will face two additional gun-related charges at his trial for the murder of his girlfriend, prosecutors said on Tuesday. The athlete, who is on bail, claims he acted in self defence when he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day at his home in February, mistaking her for an intruder. His trial is due to start in March next year. The additional charges related to incidents prior to the February shooting in which Pistorius was alleged to have fired a gun in a public space. This will form part of the prosecution's overall murder case against Pistorius. Prosecutors have portrayed Pistorius as a cold-blooded killer and said they were confident that their case, which will have to rely heavily on forensics and witnesses who said they heard shouting before the shots, would stand up to scrutiny. "The new charges relate to the contravention of the Firearm Control Act, but I cannot go into the details," Nathi Mncube, spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said. Pistorius' lawyer Brian Webber confirmed his client would face additional charges but declined to comment further. The 26-year-old double-amputee known as "Blade Runner" for the prostheses he wears in competition appeared in court in August when his trial date was set for next year. A lesser charge of having 38 rounds of unlicensed ammunition at his home was also presented on that occasion. In the aftermath of Steenkamp's death, media reported one previous incident in which Pistorius allegedly fired a gun at a restaurant and another alleged incident in which he fired shots through a car sunroof while in the company of a former girlfriend. His arrest and forthcoming trial have riveted South Africa and beyond. If convicted, he could face life in prison.