A neighbour of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has told a court in Pretoria that she was awoken by a woman's "terrible screams" in the early hours of 14 February 2013.

Mr Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He shot dead the 29-year-old model and reality TV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The neighbour, Michelle Burger, said cries for help were followed by shots.

"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help," Ms Burger told the high court in the capital.

She said she called security and then heard four gunshots.

The arrest of the national sporting hero astounded South Africa.

The 27-year-old double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.

'Traumatic'

For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial are being televised live, although Ms Burger's testimony, in Afrikaans, was only relayed in audio.

The start to proceedings at the court in the capital on Monday was delayed by 90 minutes as a Afrikaans translator was absent.

The BBC's Andrew Harding in the courtroom says Mr Pistorius looked calm, or at least neutral as he arrived in court - a far cry from the emotional wreck he seemed at the bail hearing last year.

ANC Women's League members outside court voiced their support for the model Reeva Steenkamp

Her mother June Steenkamp arrived in the rain at the high court on Monday morning

 

Oscar Pistorius walked into the court without any apparent glance at the relatives' bench

 

South Africa was stunned when the athlete shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp

Mr Pistorius's uncle, brother and sister are also in court; next to them on the relatives' bench is the family of Ms Steenkamp, including her mother June, our correspondent says.

Mr Pistorius pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the "wilful and intentional murder of Reeva Steenkamp" as the trial began.