Oscar Pistorius trial: Defense team ends its case

Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux has said that some witnesses refused to testify at the televised trial of the South African athlete because of the publicity.

They did not want “their voices all over the world”, Barry Roux told the court as his team ended its case.

The court has now adjourned until August 7 for closing arguments.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The prosecution accuses Oscar Pistorius of deliberately shooting dead Reeva Steenkamp after the pair had an argument.

The trial, which began on March 3, is the first in South Africa to be broadcast live on TV and has attracted intense global attention.

Barry Roux said the defense, which began its presentation on March 28, had no more witnesses to call.

He said he had chosen not to ask Judge Thokozile Masipa to make them appear, the Associated Press news agency reports.

“There’s nothing that we can do about it,” he said.

He did not name the witnesses who had refused to testify.

Both the prosecution and defence teams must submit their written arguments Judge Thokozile Masipa before the trial resumes in August.

She warned that these documents should not be leaked before the arguments were put forward in court.