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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South African prosecutors pressing a murder charge against Oscar Pistorius secured a meeting Thursday with Apple officials in the United States over accessing potentially crucial evidence on the double-amputee athletes locked iPhone, they said. Davis Bertans Jersey . Pistorius claimed he forgot the password for the cellphone, one of a number found at his upscale villa after he shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Feb. 14, 2013. Investigators have been seeking help from Apple through the F.B.I. since last year to get access to the phone, a spokesman for South Africas National Prosecuting Authority said. Investigators from South Africa would now meet with Apple officials Thursday at the tech giants headquarters in California, spokesman Nathi Mncube said. Pistorius trial starts Monday, giving both prosecutors and Pistorius defence team just four days to analyze any information on the iPhone. Prosecutors would be obliged to also give any evidence they find to Pistorius lawyers. „It can only add on the evidence we already have,“ Mncube said in an interview with TV station eNCA. „It cannot be prejudicial to our case. The people concerned, should the evidence be favourable to us, are the defence. Then we have a responsibility to make it available to them as soon as we have it so they can also prepare for the trial.“ Mncube also confirmed the meeting and the reason behind it separately to The Associated Press after his telephone interview with eNCA. The prosecution maintains that Pistorius had a fight with Steenkamp before killing her, a cornerstone of its case, and information on the Olympians phone may shed light on events before the pre-dawn shooting last Valentines Day. Pistorius says he shot the model and reality TV star after mistaking her for a dangerous intruder. South African prosecutors hope to have the information from the phone by late Thursday, Mncube said, adding that they would make any evidence from the phone available to Pistorius defence lawyers. He wouldnt comment on what prosecutors might be looking for on the phone. But even without access to Pistorius iPhone, Mncube said the state had enough evidence to support the premeditated murder charge. Court documents indicate prosecutors are expected to build much of their case against the world-famous runner on witnesses who the state claims will testify to hearing a woman in Pistorius house screaming before the sound of gunshots. That suggests a fight and contradicts Pistorius version of events. Prosecutors also will likely try to use the trajectory of the bullets from the four shots fired by Pistorius through a toilet door to show he intended to kill Steenkamp and was not fearful and acting in self-defence. „We are very confident that we have sufficient evidence,“ prosecution spokesman Mncube said. „And that the evidence we have already will be more than sufficient to secure us hopefully a conviction in this matter.“ Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Pistorius should he be convicted of murder in Steenkamps killing, meaning he would have to serve at least 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole. There is no death penalty in South Africa. Jeff Malone Jersey . The top-ranked Williams carried her winning momentum from 2013 into the new season, beating No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday to defend her title at the Brisbane International and set the tone for the Australian Open. Caron Butler Jersey . Greece was on the wrong end of a 3-0 rout to Colombia in its first game of the tournament. They surrendered a goal in just the sixth minute of the contest, and despite some promising attacking play, failed to crawl back into the match. Japan, on the other hand, struck first in its match with Ivory Coast, with Keisuke Honda putting his side into the lead in the 16th minute.WASHINGTON – Star outfielder Bryce Harper was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Washington Nationals on Sunday with a sprained left thumb. The move is retroactive to Saturday. Harper hurt his hand with a head-first slide into third base Friday night after hitting a third-inning, bases-loaded triple in Washingtons 11-1 victory. He stayed in the game for an inning before he was replaced. „Its part of baseball. You slide into the bag and sometimes you get your fingers,“ Harper said. „Its a bummer, but hopefully Ill be back soon.“ Harper will fly to Cleveland on Monday to see prominent hand specialist Thomas Graham for a second opinion. For now, his proscribed treatment is ice. „Hopefully 15 days go by and I can get back out there,“ Harper said. „Well see how I feel in 15.“ Harper joins starting catcher Wilson Ramos and starting thirrd baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list, both with hand injuries. Jordan McRae Jersey. Ramos, hurt on opening day, had surgery on his left hand. Zimmerman broke his right thumb also sliding into a bag, on April 12. Also on the DL are starting pitcher Doug Fister (back), who is scheduled for a rehab start on Sunday, and reserve outfielder Scott Hairston (side). „Weve got a lot of off days in the next 15, so thats huge,“ Harper said. Harper went 2 for 2 and had a career-high four RBIs on Friday night, giving him nine for the season as he lifted his batting average to .289. He has only one home run in 83 at-bats. „Its frustrating,“ Harper said. „I want to be out there and be able to help my team win every single day.“ Steven Souza Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him on the roster but was not in the lineup Sunday. ‚ ‚ ‚