Pretoria Magistrates Court has ruled that Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius will be charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Desmond Nair has declared in court today that the double amputee will be charged with a schedule six offence, which could result in a life sentence for the 26-year-old, who is alleged to have shot Steenkamp four times at his home in Pretoria.

Pistorius's defence lawyer Barry Roux tried to argue a schedule five offence, which would have given the sprinter a better chance of achieving bail, after telling the court that the athlete was not aware that the 29-year-old model was the person in the bathroom when he allegedly fired through the door, killing Steenkamp.

Prosecutor Garrie Nel argued that the murder was planned by claiming that Pistorius had put on his prosthetic legs to walk seven metres to the door with the intention to kill.

Magistrate Nair can downgrade the charge following the application of bail.