Pistorius to finally reveal reasons for shooting Steenkamp this week

Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius is expected to finally reveal why he shot Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door, more than a year after he killed her, in his murder trial which resumes this week.

Pistorius' defence lawyers will reportedly present evidence in his favour, which they hope will save the Paralympic sprinter from going to prison for 25 years of life.

A legal expert said that Pistorius' account that he killed Steenkamp by mistake might either 'stand' or 'fall' with his testimony in court, Sport24 reported.

Pistorius, who has been charged with premeditated murder for Steenkamp's death, and his defence team said that he would testify to counter accusations that he killed his girlfriend intentionally by firing four times through his bathroom door on Valentine's Day last year.

Pistorius said that he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder in his Pretoria home and his testimony has reportedly provided prosecutors with the chance to cross-examine him and scrutinise every aspect of his story.

Pistorius' questioning by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel could be the biggest challenge yet for him as he faces a possible life sentence, the report added.