MOSCOW, August 19 (RAPSI) - Paralympian Oscar “blade runner” Pistorius will stand trial for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp from March 3 to 20 of next year after having been formally charged Monday with murder, The Mirror UK reported Monday.

Steenkamp was shot and killed in Pistorius’ home in February. The Mirror reported that Pistorius has maintained that he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder, but that prosecutors plan to say he had fired his weapon with the intention to kill.

Reuters reported that prosecutors plan to call upwards of 100 witnesses, including local models and sport starts that had known the couple.

According to RAPSI’s sister agency R-Sport, Pistorius – a double amputee – has won six Paralympic gold medals, and competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

He has come to be popularly known as the “blade runner” due to the distinctive shape of his prosthetic legs.

R-Sport further reported that Pistorius had been regarded as one of South Africa's premier sport stars and had enjoyed national celebrity status. Steenkamp was reportedly renowned for her modelling work and had been due to star in a new TV series.

Pistorius reportedly faces life in prison with a minimum 25 year sentence.