Pistorius' murder trial postponed until May 5

The judge in Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius' murder trial has announced that the proceeds of the case will be postponed following Thursday's hearings until May 5, two days ahead of South Africa's national elections.

Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa said that Pistorius, who has been accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been on trial beyond the three weeks schedule since early last month and 2000 pages of testimony have already been generated in the trial.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although May 5 might not be a suitable date as it comes so close to the elections in the nation, Judge Masipa said that they are pressed for time, adding that an accused is entitled to speedy justice.

The prosecution had reportedly sought the postponement earlier this week as they want to attend to other cases, in which the accused are in detention, while Pistorius is free on bail.

Pistorius has reportedly denied that he killed Steenkamp deliberately in the early hours of February 14 last year, when he shot her through the locked door of a bathroom.

The athlete said that he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder behind the bathroom door, but the prosecution contends the couple had an argument, the report added.