Pistorius trial to begin amid blaze of publicity Star Olympian Oscar Pistorius faces a possible life sentence when he goes on trial, accused of murdering his girlfriend in a Valentine's Day shooting that shocked the world. Pistorius is expected to argue he shot his 29-year-old lover Reeva Steenkamp through a locked toilet door at his home believing she was an intruder. REFILE of a natural sound version of an AFPTV report.