Oscar Pistorius describes events after shooting Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius described events after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home at his murder trial in Pretoria.

During his emotional testimony Oscar Pistorius said Reeva Steenkamp died before the ambulance arrived while he was holding her.

The Paralympic athlete said he tried to help his girlfriend breathe and stem the bleeding from her hip.

Oscar Pistorius denies deliberately shooting dead Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year, arguing he mistook her for an intruder.

Prosecutors contend he intentionally killed her in the toilet of his bathroom after a row.

On Tuesday, Oscar Pistorius broke down in tears whilst describing the events leading up to the shooting and the actual event.

If acquitted, South African law stipulates that the court must consider the separate, lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he could receive between six and 15 years in prison.

Oscar Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.

During his emotional testimony Oscar Pistorius said Reeva Steenkamp died before the ambulance arrived while he was holding her (photo AP)

On his third day on the stand, Oscar Pistorius described the moments after paramedics had arrived at the scene.

“They asked for some space to work so I stood up. Reeva had already died whilst I was holding her before the ambulance arrived. So, I knew there was nothing they could do for her,” he told the court.

He also described his distress as police and other officials arrived at the house.

“I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up,” he said.

Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux also asked him to demonstrate how he would swing a cricket bat.

The athlete said he was on his prosthetic legs when he used the cricket bat to break down the toilet door.

He said the three sounds heard by witnesses at 03:17 local time was the cricket bat hitting the door – about five minutes after he shot at the toilet door.

Oscar Pistorius said he was on his stumps, when he shot at the door.

“I can barely stand on my stumps,” he said.

During his questioning, Barry Roux also mentioned statements from close neighbors who were listed by the state but not called by the prosecution.

He said the statement from Kenny Motshoane’s house described hearing “crying” and not “a woman screaming”, as mentioned by other witnesses.

Another woman living nearby also says she heard “loud crying” and not a woman screaming, Barry Roux said.

Before Barry Roux ended his questioning he asked Oscar Pistorius if he had intentionally killed Reeva Steenkamp.

“I did not intend to kill Reeva or anybody else for that matter,” he replied.

On Tuesday, Oscar Pistorius described how the couple had spent a quiet evening together on February 13, Reeva Steenkamp doing some yoga as he spoke to his cousin on the phone.

He had then watched TV in bed with his head resting on her stomach and she would occasionally show him photos of cars she was looking at on her phone, he said.

Oscar Pistorius said that they had bought Valentine’s Day gifts for each other.

[youtube Vbz64-Ie0BM 650]