Oscar Pistorius will be charged with premeditated murder on Monday, August 19 and the double-amputee Olympian will go on trial in early 2014, about a year after shooting dead his girlfriend, prosecutors said. In a sombre twist, Pistorius will be indicted on the day the woman he killed, Reeva Steenkamp, would have celebrated her 30th birthday, Belfast Telegraph reported.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku said on Friday that the exact date for the trial had not yet been set and would likely be decided on Monday, Pistorius' next scheduled appearance in court.

The indictment papers will be served at Pretoria Magistrate's Court and the prosecution will retain a main charge of premeditated murder, Mr Simasiku said. Pistorius faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted on that charge.

Pistorius was initially charged with premeditated murder for Miss Steenkamp's death for bail purposes while police investigated the circumstances of the Valentine's Day shooting. Police said this week they had completed their six-month investigation and are convinced Pistorius "had a charge to answer to," leading to the indictment.