Oscar Pistorius' ex-girlfriend, Samantha Taylor, spoke about the athlete's violent mood swings in the Pretoria High Court, Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Samantha Taylor appeared in court and revealed that she feared for her life during the 18 months of dating Pistorius prior to the athlete's relationship with model Reeva Steenkamp. She also claimed that she had bruises and scars after Pistorius left her.

Pistorius' ex-girlfriend also claimed that the athlete made her sit as he shouted at her, and had even driven his Porsche at 200mph as a punishment for an argument.

Taylor also said that the athlete carried a gun with him everywhere and that their relationship had ended when he cheated on her with Steenkamp.

According to Taylor, she received RIP messages on her phone, email, and Twitter on the night Oscar Pistorius murdered his model girlfriend.

"The biggest shock for me was when it did happen - lots of people thought it actually was me," Ms. Taylor said in an interview with Channel Nine's program, 'A Current Affair'.

"That really could have been me," she added.

Pistorius has been found not guilty of murder, a decision that might be appealed against by the state. Judge Masipa found Pistorius guilty last month of culpable homicide for acting negligently.

He shot Miss Steenkamp four times through a lavatory door and claimed that he had mistaken her for an intruder.

Pistorius' sentence could range from a suspended prison sentence and a fine, to 15 years in prison. Annette Vergeer, a probation officer, recommended the athlete should be placed under house arrest since he would be vulnerable to gang rape if sent to prison.

Officer Vergeer also described the dangers of drugs, gangs, and sodomy in South Africa's prisons, which she said are poorly equipped for disabled people.