Pistorius to fight for bail as slain girlfriend gets cremated

Family insists evidence will refute 'any possibility of a premeditated murder'

Oscar Pistorius's slain girlfriend is to be cremated today as the South African "Bladerunner" athlete appears in court for a bail hearing expected to reveal more about what happened the night she was shot dead.

Model Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was shot four times in the early hours of Thursday by a 9mm pistol owned by the sprinter, and she died of her wounds at the scene.

Pistorius's family has insisted that the evidence will refute "any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all".

Defence lawyers are expected to argue that there are "exceptional circumstances" for Olympic athlete Pistorius to be freed pending trial.

As a result, more details will likely emerge of what happened during the Valentine's Day shooting at Pistorius's upmarket home in a gated estate in the South African capital.

The state, arguing premeditated murder, will oppose bail.

Both sides have called in heavyweight lawyers, setting the scene for a massive legal showdown.

In Port Elizabeth meanwhile, Steenkamp's family were preparing their final farewells.

In an interview published yesterday, Steenkamp's mother described her death as "horrendous."