PRETORIA, South Africa — Here are excerpts from the affidavit made by Oscar Pistorius and read out in court by senior defense lawyer Barry Roux in a bail hearing Tuesday after the athlete was charged with premeditated murder over the Feb. 14 shooting death of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp:

‘‘I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder, as I had no intention to kill my girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp (“Reeva”). ... I deny the aforesaid allegation in the strongest terms. ...