Pistorius: Dramatic details revealed in court

The bail application of murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius started in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court shortly before 10am on Tuesday.

After Pistorius was brought in, State prosecutor Gerrie Nel launched straight into the first official details of what allegedly led to the death of Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

"There are objective facts that are not in dispute," said Nel. He said Steenkamp was shot three times behind a closed bathroom door. Four shots were fired in total.

With Pistorius looking down, Nel said there were two people in the house.

Her overnight bag was there and a cosmetic bag was left in the bathroom. He said Steenkamp was shot three times behind a closed bathroom door.

"The door was broken open from the outside," Nel told the court.

With Pistorius still looking at the floor, Nel said the State would say that the door was locked and Steenkamp's body was carried downstairs. He said Pistorius then said to a friend he thought she was a burglar.

Nel wanted to know why a burglar would lock himself in a bathroom.

"We say this in itself constitutes premeditated murder of a burglar," said Nel.

When he finished his argument, Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux stood up to argue why Pistorius should be granted bail.

Pistorius is charged with Steenkamp's murder last Thursday.