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On day 13 of Oscar Pistorius trial in Pretoria, a key police ballistics expert has said the athlete was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.
Correspondents say this lends support to the defense team’s insistence that the shooting was not premeditated.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, saying he thought she was an intruder.
The prosecution says the Paralympic champion intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument.
Captain Christian Mangena said analysis of the crime scene and his subsequent tests suggested that Oscar Pistorius, 27, was not wearing the prostheses when he fired the fatal shots.
He also said that while he had not been able to determine the exact distance, the evidence pointed to the shots having been fired from a position greater than 23 inches away from the toilet door but no further than 10ft.
Correspondents say this is in line with the athlete’s testimony that he pulled the trigger while standing at the entrance to the bathroom.
Explaining the trajectory of the bullets, Capt. Christian Mangena said that Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was standing up in the toilet cubicle when she was hit in the right hip by the first of four bullets.
He said she then fell backwards before being hit in the arm and the head by the last two bullets fired by Oscar Pistorius through the wooden door as she crossed both hands over her head to protect herself.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013
Contradicting the athlete’s testimony that the shots had been fired in close succession, Capt. Christian Mangena said there had been a short break between the first and second shots and that the second bullet missed Reeva Steenkamp.
Correspondents say this corroborates evidence given by a neighbor who said she heard a shot, then a pause, then three further shots. It also suggests that Reeva Steenkamp may have had time to scream before she fell to the floor, supporting the neighbor’s testimony that she had heard a woman screaming.
“I’m of the opinion that after [the first] wound was inflicted… she dropped immediately,” Capt. Christian Mangena said.
Reeva Steenkamp then slumped into a “seated or semi-seated position” on top of a magazine rack, according to the police officer.
After the third and fourth shots she “ended up with her head on top of the toilet seat, and the lower part of her body on the rack”, Capt. Christian Mangena added.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux contested Capt. Christian Mangena’s evidence on the timing, maintaining that the bullets could have been fired in quick succession using a “double tap” technique – where the trigger is pulled in quick succession.
Capt. Christian Mangena insisted this was “impossible”, saying that if this had been the case then Reeva Steenkamp’s wounds would have been in the same area of her body.
The court also heard from Col. Mike Sales, an officer in the police technological investigations department, who analyzed data from Oscar Pistorius’ smartphones and tablets.
Col. Mike Sales said several websites had been browsed on Oscar Pistorius’ iPad on the evening of the shooting, although he could not confirm who had been using the iPad.
The internet history featured searches for used cars, including an Aston Martin and a Ford Ranger.
The court was adjourned until Monday after the prosecution said it would only call on five more witnesses.
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During the 12th day of Oscar Pistorius’ trial in Pretoria his defense team accused police photographer Bennie Van Staden of mishandling the crime scene.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux said some images showed “great disturbance” was caused to the evidence but the police officer insisted he had followed procedure.
The Paralympic champion denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he thought she was an intruder.
The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument.
The court also heard from a police ballistics expert on Tuesday, but the trial was adjourned before he explained the key points of his investigation into the trajectory of the bullets from Oscar Pistorius’ gun.
Captain Christian Mangena said he had measured Oscar Pistorius with his prosthetic legs on and off to try to determine whether he was wearing them or not. He is expected to disclose the results of his inquiries on Wednesday.
Correspondents say whether or not Oscar Pistorius was on his prosthetic limbs is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Reeva Steenkamp at his house on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Photographs of the bloody scene at Oscar Pistorius’ house were shown to court as police photographer Bennie Van Staden was cross-examined by defense lawyer Barry Roux for a second day.
The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument
Barry Roux painstakingly examined pictures taken by Bennie Van Staden and another police officer, and said evidence had been moved around in violation of police procedure.
The lawyer challenged Bennie Van Staden over two images of Oscar Pistorius’ bedroom, which showed tissues, a CD and a remote control in different positions.
Bennie Van Staden admitted that he had moved bloodied towels and a duvet to check for further evidence, but said that he had taken pictures of the original scene before doing so.
Barry Roux also used metadata on each photo to suggest that the two policemen were taking pictures in the same room at the same point, despite Bennie Van Staden testifying that he had worked alone.
According to times on the photographs, both Bennie Van Staden and the other police officer, identified as Colonel Motha, were in the bathroom at the same time.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Barry Roux’s assertion that the two policemen had been working together, asking why it was that the other officer had not been captured in any of Bennie Van Staden’s pictures.
The prosecutor also said that debating whether the cricket bat that Oscar Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door had been moved “millimetres” for a photograph did not change the fact that is was covered in blood.
Bennie Van Staden took hundreds of images at the scene, including several of the bloodied cricket bat as well as bullet casings and a gun.
He was called to the scene at around 04:50 a.m. local time and took pictures of the accused and the deceased, as well as pictures of the rooms of the house.
The photographer described nine images that he took of Oscar Pistorius soon after the shooting, with the athlete wearing blood-soaked shorts in the garage of his home.
Barry Roux has challenged previous police witnesses over details of their movements in a bid to uncover contradictions that support his argument that the investigation was bungled.
So far, Oscar Pistoius’ defense team has pointed out several errors by police investigators, including an officer handling the suspected murder weapon without gloves and another stealing from the house.
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On the 12th day of Oscar Pistorius trial in Pretoria, police photographer showed the images of the bloody scene at the athlete’s house.
Oscar Pistorius’ defense team says the police crime scene photographer failed to label his pictures correctly.
The Paralympic champion denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he thought she was an intruder.
The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument at his house on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Photographer Bennie Van Staden was being cross-examined for the second day by defense lawyer Barry Roux on details of when and where he took some photos and what he moved at the home of Oscar Pistorius.
Bennie Van Staden’s testimony continued after the start of Tuesday’s proceedings was delayed by more than an hour after the defense team asked him to produce discs containing master copies of photographs.
His images included the bloodied cricket bat Oscar Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door as well as blood-soaked towels and two mobile phones.
Oscar Pistorius’ defense team says the police crime scene photographer failed to label his pictures correctly (photo AP)
Bennie Van Staden was called to the scene at around 04:50 local time and took pictures of the accused and the deceased, as well as pictures of the rooms of the house.
The police photographer rejected claims that his picture timeline was jumbled or unclear, saying that each of the photographs had the date and time it was taken on the picture.
Bennie Van Staden also described nine photographs that he took of Oscar Pistorius soon after the shooting, with the athlete wearing blood-soaked shorts in the garage of his home.
On Monday, the trial heard from a firearm specialist who said Oscar Pistorius had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders.
Oscar Pistorius had bought a gun from Sean Patrick Rens, a firearms assessor, in 2012 and ordered six more guns from him – but the order was cancelled a month after Reeva Steenkamp was killed.
Sean Patrick Rens read out a competency questionnaire that Oscar Pistorius had completed before he could be issued with a firearm.
Oscar Pistorius scored top marks in these tests, which included questions on the legal issues around shooting intruders.
One of the questions in the test was: “There is no security gate between you and the burglars. They are armed and they advance towards you. Can you discharge your firearm because you fear for your life?”
To which Oscar Pistorius replied: “Yes.”
Another question was: “Explain the legal requirements when using a firearm for private use”, to which Oscar Pistorius answered: “Attack must be against you, it must be unlawful, it must be against persons.”
Answering the final question on the importance of target identification, Oscar Pistorius said: “Always know your target and what lies behind.”
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On the eleventh day of Oscar Pistorius trial, the court has heard from a firearm specialist that the athlete had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders.
Oscar Pistorius said one could discharge a firearm if one feared for one’s life.
The Paralympic champion denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument at his house on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Sean Patrick Rens is involved in firearms assessment for licenses and met Oscar Pistorius in 2012 through a mutual friend.
Oscar Pistorius had bought a gun from Sean Patrick Rens, a Smith and Wesson 500, day 11 of the trial heard. He then ordered six more guns from him.
The order was cancelled a month after Reeva Steenkamp was killed.
Sean Patrick Rens read out a competency questionnaire and examination that Oscar Pistorius had completed before he could be issued with a firearm.
He scored top marks in these tests, which included questions about the rules on when you are legally allowed to shoot intruders.
One question was: “There is no security gate between you and the burglars. They are armed and they advance towards you. Can you discharge your firearm because you fear for your life?”
Oscar Pistorius replied: “Yes.”
The next question was: “Explain the legal requirements when using a firearm for private use”, to which Oscar Pistorius answered: “Attack must be against you, it must be unlawful, it must be against persons.”
Oscar Pistorius had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders
The final question on the importance of target identification elicited this answer from Oscar Pistorius: “Always know your target and what lies behind.”
Sean Patrick Rens also relates an incident when Oscar Pistorius told him about going into “code red”, or “combat mode”, after hearing a noise in the house and thinking there was an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, got his gun and cleared the house by drawing his gun and checking rooms, Sean Patrick Rens said, and when he got to the source, he found it was a tumble drier.
Oscar Pistorius had tweeted about the incident in November 2012: “Nothing like getting home to hear the washing machine on and thinking it’s an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry!”
The questioning of Sean Patrick Rens at the end of his testimony was the briefest cross-examination of the trial by Barry Roux.
The next witness was police crime scene photographer Bennie Van Staden, whom Barry Roux accuses of failing to label his pictures correctly.
Bennie Van Staden was called to the scene at around 04:50 and took pictures of the accused and the deceased, as well as pictures in the different rooms of the house.
His photographs show the bloodied bat Oscar Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door, the damaged door itself, blood-soaked towels, two mobile phones, blood puddles on the bathroom tiles, as well as the toilet bowl covered in blood, with streaks on the inside.
Bennie Van Staden says that you can see the date and time of the photo in his pictures, rejecting defense claims that his picture timeline was jumbled or unclear.
He explained how he set out cones to highlight certain objects in the bathroom, e.g. cartridge cases, and moved some objects for visibility.
The trial has now been adjourned until Tuesday.
Oscar Pistorius trial is expected to call on more than 100 witnesses. It had been set to last for three weeks, but looks likely to be extended.
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Former police officer Col. Schoombie van Rensburg told Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial that two of the athlete’s watches went missing from the crime scene.
Col. Schoombie van Rensburg said he had been “furious” at the disappearances and had ordered officers to be body-searched for the “expensive” watches.
The court was also shown a photo of Oscar Pistorius in blood-covered shorts.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
The prosecution says he intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument at his house on February 14, 2013.
Col. Schoombie van Rensburg, who was initially in charge of the crime scene, said that when he first saw the watches he was worried about them and ordered them to be photographed because they “looked expensive”.
Col. Schoombie van Rensburg told Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial that two of the athlete’s watches went missing from the crime scene
After returning to the main bedroom where a team of forensic experts was gathering evidence, the police officer realized one watch, said to be worth as much as $10,000 was missing. He said he was told Oscar Pistorius’ sister Aimee had come into the room and removed it.
After leaving the room again, another watch went missing, so he gave instructions for the police officers and their cars to be searched.
Col. Schoombie van Rensburg said that after that, everyone entering and leaving the scene was thoroughly searched and entered into a log, presented in court.
He said he told Oscar Pistorius he should file a complaint, while he opened a case of theft.
The former officer, who retired last year, also told the court he was angry when he saw a ballistics expert handling Oscar Pistorius’ 9mm pistol without any gloves, and told him to put some on.
The admissions call into question the police’s handling of the crime scene, in a case that is likely to hinge on sensitive forensic evidence, correspondents say.
Friday’s hearing has now been adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.
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On the tenth day of Oscar Pistorius trial in Pretoria, former police officer Col. Schoombie van Rensburg has said he was “furious” when two of the athlete’s watches went missing from the crime scene.
Col Schoombie van Rensburg told the murder trial he ordered his officers to be body-searched for the “expensive” watches, but they were not found.
He also said an officer had handled Oscar Pistorius’ gun without wearing gloves.
Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder.
The prosecution says he shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument at his house on February 14, 2013.
Schoombie van Rensburg, who was initially in charge of the crime scene, said that when he first saw the watches he was worried about them and ordered them to be photographed because they “looked expensive”.
After returning to the main bedroom where a team of forensic experts was gathering evidence, he realized one watch, said to be worth as much as $10,000 was missing. He said he was told Oscar Pistorius’ sister Aimee had come into the room and removed it.
Oscar Pistorius had blood on his arm after shooting Reeva Steenkamp last year
After leaving the room again, another watch went missing, so he gave instructions for the police officers and their cars to be searched.
Schoombie van Rensburg said that after that, everyone entering and leaving the scene was thoroughly searched and entered into a log, presented in court.
He described his stunned reaction to the watches’ disappearance: “I said, <<I can’t believe it. We were just there. How can this watch be gone?>>”.
He said he told Oscar Pistorius he should file a complaint, while he opened a case of theft.
The former officer, who retired last year, also told the court he was angry when he saw a ballistics expert handling Oscar Pistorius’ 9mm pistol without any gloves, and told him to put some on.
The admissions call into question the police’s handling of the crime scene, in a case that is likely to hinge on sensitive forensic evidence.
Col. Schoombie van Rensburg also said he saw Oscar Pistorius with blood on his arm, while the court was shown a photograph of the athlete with blood on his shorts.
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A retired officer has told Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial that police followed a “trail of blood” up the stairs after being called to the athlete’s house in Pretoria.
Col Schoombie van Rensburg said he found Oscar Pistorius in a “very emotional state”.
Earlier, a forensics expert defended police handling of evidence.
Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, after mistaking her for an intruder.
The prosecution says he tried to beat down the door and then fired the gun following an argument.
Col Schoombie van Rensburg, who was initially in charge of the crime scene, said he immediately gave orders for it to be secured.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux has said that evidence from the scene subsequently went missing.
When Schoombie van Rensburg arrived, he found Oscar Pistorius in the kitchen, pacing up and down.
Police had found Oscar Pistorius in a very emotional state after killing Reeva Steenkamp
The former officer asked the athlete what happened, but “he was very emotional. He didn’t understand”, Col. Schoombie van Rensburg said.
He described a “trail of blood” leading up the stairs and spots of blood on chairs in the living room.
The court was shown photographs of the crime scene, which showed blood on the stair walls.
Schoombie van Rensburg said there was a spatter of blood on the first floor landing, with some blood on the wall next to his trophies.
He said he found the toilet door, through which Reeva Steenkamp had been shot, locked.
Schoombie van Rensburg resigned from the police force in December after nearly 30 years of service.
He said when he entered Oscar Pistorius’ house, he found Reeva Steenkamp’s body lying in a pool of blood covered in white towels and black plastic bags.
There was another woman there, Carise, the daughter of estate manager Johan Stander.
She told him Oscar Pistorius had phoned, saying he needed their help.
Johan Stander also told him that she and Oscar Pistorius used the plastic bags and a towel to stop the bleeding after Reeva Steenkamp had been shot.
The prosecution has been attempting to cast doubt on parts of Oscar Pistorius’ story, including his claim that he was wearing his legs at the time of the shooting.
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A South African forensics expert has swung a cricket bat at a toilet door erected in the courtroom at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial in Pretoria to demonstrate key pieces of evidence.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, says he mistakenly shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through the door, believing she was a burglar, then broke it down with the bat.
The prosecution says the Paralympic champion tried to beat down the door and then fired the gun.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013.
Forensic expert Police Colonel Johan Vermeulen also said he thought Oscar Pistorius had hit the door with the bat from a low angle, indicating he was not wearing his prosthetic legs at the time.
This contradicts the athlete’s claim that he had been wearing his artificial limbs.
Correspondents say whether or not Oscar Pistorius was on his prosthetic limbs is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Reeva Steenkamp, or expose inconsistencies in it.
The damaged toilet door, with four bullet holes, was examined in the courtroom along with a replica of the toilet cubicle.
The forensics expert has swung a cricket bat at a toilet door erected in the courtroom at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial
Forensic evidence on the location from which shots were fired, how they were grouped and their trajectory were presented to the court on Wednesday.
Cross-examining, Oscar Pistorius’ defense team asked forensic expert Col. Johan Vermeulen to kneel and lift his feet, which caused him to wobble.
The defense team claimed that Oscar Pistorius therefore would not have been able to balance on his stumps and break down the door using a cricket bat.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux also alleged that police had contaminated the crime scene by stepping on the door.
Col. Johan Vermeulen argued that if Oscar Pistorius was balanced enough to fire a gun, he could also break down a door with a bat.
The forensics expert argued that the angle and location of the marks on the door suggested that they had been caused by someone much shorter than him.
The defense team argued that a mark on the bottom of the door showed where Oscar Pistorius had tried to kick open the door using his prosthetic legs. Col. Johan Vermeulen agreed that this was possible.
“The marks on the door are actually consistent with him not having his legs on and I suspect they must be similar to the height that he was when he fired the shots,” he told the court.
The prosecution argues that Oscar Pistorius hit the door with the cricket bat before the shots were fired, but the defense claims it was the other way round.
The trial is now halfway through its second week.
Earlier on Wednesday, a friend of Oscar Pistorius, Darren Fresco, claimed that the athlete had driven at 124mph and that he had taken a picture of the speedometer to prove it.
The defense team alleged that Darren Fresco was himself driving at the time and had therefore fabricated evidence.
On Tuesday, Oscar Pistorius’ defense team questioned a pathologist’s finding that Reeva Steenkamp had eaten less than two hours before he killed her.
This contradicts Oscar Pistorius’ account that the pair had been in bed for several hours before the shooting.
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Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was not wearing his prostheses when he broke down a door to reach Reeva Steenkamp after he shot her, his murder trial has heard on the eighth day.
The forensic evidence contradicted Oscar Pistorius’ claim that he was wearing prosthetics at the time.
The door has been brought into court to be examined during the murder trial.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year, saying he fired after mistaking her for a burglar.
A replica of the toilet in which Reeva Steenkamp was shot has been also brought into court.
The court will hear forensic evidence on the location of shooter, the grouping of the shots and their trajectory.
Cross-examining, Oscar Pistorius’ defense team asked the forensic expert to kneel on his knees and lift his feet, which caused him to wobble.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year
The defense team claimed that Mr Pistorius therefore would not have been able to balance on his stumps and break down the door using a cricket bat.
The prosecution witness argued that if Oscar Pistorius, 27, was balanced enough to fire a gun, he could also break down a door with a bat.
The trial is now halfway through its second week, and is expected to feature over 100 witnesses.
Earlier on Wednesday, a friend of Oscar Pistorius claimed that the star had driven at 124mph and that he had taken a picture of the speedometer to prove it.
The defense team alleged that Darren Fresco was himself driving at the time and had therefore fabricated evidence.
The state is seeking to convince the court that Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, and reality TV star, had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed her.
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On the seventh day of Oscar Pistorius trial in Pretoria, his defense team has questioned a pathologist’s finding that Reeva Steenkamp had eaten less than two hours before he killed her.
This contradicts Oscar Pistorius’ account that he and his girlfriend had been in bed for several hours before the shooting.
On Monday, Oscar Pistorius vomited as he listened to the medical testimony.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and says he mistook her for a burglar.
Dr. Gert Saayman said Reeva Steenkamp had been shot three times, in the head, hip and arm but that he did not know the order of the injuries.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp and says he mistook her for a burglar
If she had been shot in the hip or arm first, screaming would have been expected, he said.
Neighbors have previously said they heard a woman screaming but Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyers argue that the athlete was the only one who screamed.
When pressed by defense lawyer Barry Roux, Dr. Gert Saayman said that there could be an error of “an hour or two” in his estimation of when Reeva Steenkamp last ate.
Judge Thokozile Masipa has ruled that Tuesday’s post-mortem examination testimony could be tweeted but not broadcast live.
The judge had banned live twitter coverage of Monday’s testimony because of its nature.
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Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius vomited in court while a pathologist testified at his murder trial on Monday.
A bucket was placed in the dock before Professor Gert Saayman, who carried out an autopsy on the Paralympic champion’s slain girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, took the stand.
Earlier the judge banned all live broadcast of the autopsy evidence.
Pathologist Gert Saayman successfully argued that broadcasting the details of the report could compromise the “dignity of the deceased”.
Reporters at the scene said Oscar Pistorius was seen “breaking down, loudly gagging, retching” as Gert Saayman spoke and later he threw up.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
The Paralympic champion, on trial for murder, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius fired four shots at Reeva Steenkamp through the bathroom door. He says he mistook the 29-year-old model and aspiring lawyer for an intruder.
Gert Saayman used the following arguments to persuade Judge Thokozile Masipa to ban broadcasts of his autopsy report:
- “Very personal nature of the findings”
- “Details of the injuries have the potential to compromise the dignity of the deceased”
- It may “harm the rights” of friends and family of the deceased
- “Goes against the morals of society”
The judge also banned coverage of the details of the autopsy report through Twitter and other social media.
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The sixth day of Oscar Pistorius trial has begun with the questioning of Pieter Baba, a security guard at the Paralympic champion’s home.
Pieter Baba said he had phoned Oscar Pistorius and not the other way round, as the defense team had suggested.
Later on Monday the trial expects to hear from Professor Gert Saayman, a specialist in forensic medicine and the trial’s first expert witness.
On Friday Pieter Baba, a security guard working at Oscar Pistorius’ gated community, spoke of his shock at seeing the athlete carrying a dying Reeva Steenkamp down the stairs at his villa.
Oscar Pistorius could face life imprisonment for killing Reeva Steenkamp
Pieter Baba said he had called Oscar Pistorius in response to neighbors’ reports of gunfire from the house in the early hours of the morning.
The guard said Oscar Pistorius had told him: “Everything is fine,” before calling him back a few minutes later and crying down the phone.
On Monday, Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyer suggested the athlete had called Pieter Baba first and not the other way round, but the witness stuck to his testimony.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, Barry Roux, then suggested his client had said: “I am fine,” and not: “Everything is fine,” but again the witness said this was not true.
“My Lady, what I just told the court is the truth” Pieter Baba told Judge Thokozile Masipa.
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The fifth day of Oscar Pistorius’ trial in South Africa has begun with his ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor telling the court the athlete once fired his gun from his car sunroof after becoming angry with police.
Earlier, Samantha Taylor broke down while discussing two breakups with the athlete.
Samantha Taylor said Oscar Pistorius had twice been unfaithful, with the relationship finally ending when he “cheated” on her with Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius denies both murdering Reeva Steenkamp and the alleged shooting incident.
The defense also pointed to emails it said proved the relationship with Samantha Taylor was already over by the time Oscar Pistorius began seeing Reeva Steenkamp.
Samantha Taylor insisted the relationship was not “officially” over when he started dating Reeva Steenkamp.
She also said the alleged shooting incident happened when he became angry after a police officer stopped him for speeding, saw the gun on the car seat and told him it could not be left there.
Samantha Taylor insisted her relationship with Oscar Pistorius was not officially over when he started dating Reeva Steenkamp (photo Getty Images)
Samantha Taylor accepted that he laughed around the time he actually fired the gun.
She testified that Oscar Pistorius kept his gun “on him all the time,” and described him as a man who could get very angry.
On Wednesday, the court heard evidence from boxer Kevin Lerena, about another incident in which Oscar Pistorius is alleged to have fired a gun – in a restaurant – after it was passed to him by another friend in the group. He said Oscar Pistorius asked the gun’s owner to take the blame.
Towards the end of Samantha Taylor’s evidence on Friday, the court was adjourned a second time when she broke down again in the witness box.
After returning, she was asked by the prosecution if there had been other occasions when Oscar Pistorius thought there was an intruder in his house.
Samantha Taylor replied that it had happened at least twice. Crucially, she said he always woke her up before taking his gun with him to check.
Oscar Pistorius claims that he shot Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.
If found guilty, Oscar Pistorius, 27, could face life imprisonment.
Friday’s trial began with more testimony from neighbor Johan Stipp, who on Thursday told the court he found Oscar Pistorius praying over Reeva Steenkamp’s body as she lay dying.
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Oscar Pistorius was praying over the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as she lay dying, the Paralympic champion’s neighbor Dr. Johan Stipp told his murder trial today.
In the trial’s first account of the moments after the shooting, Johan Stipp said he tried to revive Reeva Steenkamp.
During Dr. Johan Stipp’s testimony, Oscar Pistorius cried and seemed to retch.
The double amputee denies intentionally killing her, saying he mistook Reeva Steenkamp, 29, for an intruder.
If found guilty, 27-year-old Oscar Pistorius could face life imprisonment.
Oscar Pistorius was praying over the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as she lay dying
Dr. Johan Stipp, who was testifying on the fourth day of the trial at the high court in Pretoria, said he could see Reeva Steenkamp’s brain tissue in her hair.
It was at this point in the testimony that a police officer passed a plastic bag to Oscar Pistorius.
Recalling the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, Dr, Johan Stipp said he had heard gunshots and after making sure it was safe, went to help.
When he got to Oscar Pistorius’ house, he found the athlete kneeling by Reeva Steenkamp, with “his left hand on her right groin, and his right hand – the second and third fingers – in her mouth”.
“Oscar was crying all the time,” Dr. Johan Stipp said.
“He was praying to God [saying] <<Please let her live>>.”
Dr. Johan Stipp said Oscar Pistorius had been in an emotional state, and fearing he might hurt himself, had asked where the gun was.
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Another neighbor of Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial he heard the athlete saying that he had shot his girlfriend after mistaking her for a burglar.
Johan Stipp, a qualified doctor, says he tried to revive Reeva Steenkamp but could tell she was dying.
During Dr. Johan Stipp’s testimony, Oscar Pistorius cried and seemed to retch.
The double amputee denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp, saying he mistook the 29-year-old model for an intruder.
Dr. Johan Stipp said he could see Reeva Steenkamp’s brain tissue in her hair.
Oscar Pistorius on the fourth day of his murder trial in Pretoria
At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Oscar Pistorius.
Recalling the night of February 14, 2013, Dr. Johan Stipp said he had heard gunshots.
He said he had found OScar Pistorius kneeling by her body.
“I shot her,” Oscar Pistorius told him.
“I thought she was a burglar.”
Dr. Johan Stipp said Oscar Pistorius had been in an emotional state. Fearing he might hurt himself, he had asked where the gun was.
Earlier, defense lawyer Barry Roux said that two neighbors, Michell Burger and Charl Johnson, had discussed their testimony with each other and amended the rough notes they had made a few days after the shooting.
“Your interpretation [of events] is designed to incriminate the accused and it’s unfortunate,” Barry Roux said.
Charl Johnson denied this. He insisted that he had heard a woman screaming “help”, followed by a man doing the same.
On Wednesday, boxer Kevin Lerena said Oscar Pistorius had been responsible for a weapon being fired at a restaurant last year.
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After Oscar Pistorius shot dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, reports surfaced that she could have been pregnant with their first child when she was killed.
However, the post-mortem was later released, and revealed the truth behind Reeva Steenkamp’s pregnancy.
“The post mortem would have revealed if Reeva was pregnant and it did not reveal anything like this. Maybe it comes from the other side, to garner and build up some sort of support for Oscar,” Mike Steenkamp, a spokesperson for Reeva’s family, said at the time.
Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013
The original report came from the National Enquirer, which alleged that Reeva Steenkamp had been pregnant and that is what sent Oscar Pistorius on a murderous rampage.
“Police believe the pregnancy secret she revealed is what sent Pistorius over the edge and left her dead, with bullet wounds to the head, chest, pelvis and hand,” a source told The National Enquirer.
“Later that night, neighbors complained of shouting and fighting coming from the house,” the report continued.
“Police were called to investigate, but it appeared to be just another lover’s spat, so nothing was done except to ask them to quiet down.”
Oscar Pistorius insists he killed Reeva Steenkamp by accident. His trial has been resumed in Pretoria at the beginning of this week.
The third day of Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial in South Africa has begun with another key witness saying the athlete was responsible for a weapon being fired at a restaurant last year.
Boxer Kevin Lerena told the court that Oscar Pistorius had asked the owner of the gun to take the blame.
The incident happened the month before Oscar Pistorius shot dead his 29-year-old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
The Paralympic champion also denies charges of illegally possessing ammunition.
Reeva Steenkamp, a model and reality TV star, was shot dead in the early hours of February 14, 2013, at Oscar Pistorius’s home in Pretoria.
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for an intruder (photo AP)
Kevin Lerena, a professional boxer, is the fourth witness to take the stand at the trial, which began at the High Court in Pretoria on Monday.
He testified that he had been to Tasha’s Restaurant in Johannesburg with Oscar Pistorius and two other people, including Darren Fresco, in January 2013.
Darren Fresco had passed his firearm to Oscar Pistorius and said “I’m one up”, meaning there was a bullet in the chamber of the gun, Kevin Lerena said.
When the firearm was handed over a there was a shot followed by “complete silence”, he added.
Oscar Pistorius had apologized and asked Darren Fresco to take the blame, which he had agreed to do, Kevin Lerena said.
“Please, I don’t want any attention around me. Just say it was you,” Oscar Pistorius pleaded, according to Kevin Lerena.
Prosecutors say Oscar Pistorius planned the killing and shot Reeva Steenkamp after a row.
Earlier witnesses at the trial were neighbors of Oscar Pistorius who testified about the sounds they heard around the time of Reeva Steenkamp’s death.
If found guilty of premeditated murder, Oscar Pistorius could face life imprisonment.
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A second key witness in Oscar Pistorius’ trial has told the court in Pretoria she was awoken by the sounds of a fight early on February 14, 2013.
Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp, 29, at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
His neighbor, Estelle Van Der Merwe, said the row had lasted about an hour.
“It seemed like somebody was involved in a fight,” said Estelle Van Der Merwe, who lives in the same gated Pretoria housing estate as Oscar Pistorius.
“People were talking in loud voices.”
The argument woke her at about 01:56 local time and lasted about an hour. After that, she heard four loud sounds in succession.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to intentionally killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (photo Reuters)
Estelle Van Der Merwe was the second witness to take the stand at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius, which began at the high court in on Monday.
She said she had been irritated by the noise of the argument and placed a pillow on her head “in hope of falling asleep again”.
Tuesday’s hearing adjourned not long after the third witness, Charl Peter Johnson – husband to the first witness Michelle Burger – had taken the stand.
The second day of the trial began with defense lawyer Barry Roux quizzing Michelle Burger about her account of hearing a woman’s screams, a man calling for help and then four gunshots.
The defense line was clear that as Reeva Steenkamp was in a closed toilet with a closed window, the screams the witness said she heard could not have come from her.
Oscar Pistorius was in the bathroom where the window was open so the screams must have come from him.
Barry Roux also suggested expert evidence would prove that Reeva Steenkamp would have been unable to scream between shots.
When details of the bullets hitting her head were read out, Oscar Pistorius’s head dropped into his hands.
At the start of proceedings on Monday, Barry Roux read out a statement from the athlete, giving his version of events of how Reeva Steenkamp had died, saying he believed his girlfriend was in bed when he shot at the toilet door.
State prosecutors say Oscar Pistorius planned the killing and shot Reeva Steenkamp after a row.
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The second day of Oscar Pistorius’ trial in South Africa begins with his defense lawyers questioning a neighbor who told a court in Pretoria that heard a woman’s “terrible screams” on February 14, 2013.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The Paralympic champion shot dead the 29-year-old model and reality TV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius’ neighbor, Michelle Burger, said cries for help were followed by shots.
“She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help,” Michelle Burger told the high court in the capital on the first day of the trial.
Oscar Pistorius’ trial in South Africa begins with his defense lawyers questioning a key witness
Michelle Burger said she called security and then heard four gunshots.
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius, 27, won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial are being televised live, although Michelle Burger’s testimony, in Afrikaans, is being relayed in audio.
Some witness testimony is being excluded from TV broadcasts, although audio of the entire trial is being broadcast.
The court was briefly adjourned as questioning began on the second day of the trial over concerns Michelle Burger’s photograph was shown on television on Tuesday.
Judge Thokozile Masipa warned that no photographs of witnesses from any sources were to be used by the media and any violators would not be “treated with soft gloves”.
Today, Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyer Barry Roux began his remarks by outlining what he would focus on with Michelle Berger’s testimony: her credibility and reliability.
On Monday, Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the “willful and intentional murder of Reeva Steenkamp” as the trial began.
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Oscar Pistorius’s neighbor Michelle Burger has revealed in Pretoria court that she was awoken by a woman’s “terrible screams” in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The 27-year-old double amputee shot dead the 29-year-old model and reality TV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
Michelle Burger said cries for help were followed by shots.
Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
“She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help,” Michelle Burger told the high court in the capital.
The neighbor said she called security and then heard four gunshots.
For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial are being televised live, although Michelle Burger’s testimony, in Afrikaans, was only relayed in audio.
The start to proceedings at the court in South Africa’s capital on Monday was delayed by 90 minutes as an Afrikaans translator was absent.
Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the “willful and intentional murder of Reeva Steenkamp” as the trial began.
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Oscar Pistorius has arrived in court in South Africa at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, at his home in Pretoria on February 14, 2013.
State prosecutors allege the killing was premeditated, but the Paralympic champion claims he mistook her for an intruder.
For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial will be televised live. Media interest is high.
Oscar Pistorius has arrived in court in South Africa at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
The arrest of the national sporting hero astounded South Africa.
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
Oscar Pistorius’s uncle, brother and sister are also in court; next to them on the relatives’ bench is the family of Reeva Steenkamp, including her mother June.
Gerrie Nel, who is leading the prosecution team, will be the key figure in Monday’s proceedings, as he begins to lay out the state’s case against the athlete.
State prosecutors say Oscar Pistorius planned the killing and shot Reeva Steenkamp after a row.
If found guilty of premeditated murder, the sportsman could face life imprisonment.
Oscar Pistorius has also been charged with illegally possessing ammunition.
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Oscar Pistorius trial in South Africa can be partially televised, a Pretoria court has ruled today.
Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, more than a year ago, and his murder trial begins on March 3.
State prosecutors allege the killing was premeditated, but Oscar Pistorius claims he mistook her for an intruder.
It will be the first time parts of a trial in South Africa are televised live.
Judge Dunstan Mlambo at the court in Pretoria was asked to decide how much, if any, of the proceedings could be filmed and broadcast live.
The application was brought by media groups MultiChoice, eNCA and Eyewitness News, reported Sapa news agency.
Justice Dunstan Mlambo said the entire audio of the trial could be broadcast live, and sections of the trial could be filmed and televised live.
Oscar Pistorius shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and his murder trial begins on March 3
These included opening arguments, evidence of experts, police witnesses and closing arguments.
The testimony of the accused and his witnesses were exempt, the judge said.
Three cameras could be set up to be operated remotely – and no close-ups or recordings of private conversations were allowed, he said.
Witnesses could apply in writing if they did not want to be on camera – and allowances could be made to have faces obscured or filmed from the back, he added.
MultiChoice is planning 24-hour coverage of the trial on its own dedicated channel – the Oscar Pistorius Trial channel – which is due to begin broadcasting on Sunday.
Defense lawyers had said it would prejudice proceedings.
Justice Dunstan Mlambo said the broadcast of a “celebrity” trial might go a long way to address misconceptions about justice system.
However, he warned against a trial by media and said the court could be the only place where Oscar Pistorius was tried.
Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was shot three times through the toilet door of Oscar Pistorius’ Pretoria home in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, said he thought she was a burglar and denies prosecution claims that they had an argument in the hours before the shooting.
Much of the case will depend on ballistic evidence from the scene of the shooting, correspondents say.
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South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, who became a murder suspect, said Friday that he is consumed by grief on the first anniversary of the day that he fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home.
The rare statement by the double-amputee runner came ahead of the March 3 start of his trial for the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, shot in Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day.
“No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident that has caused such heartache for everyone who truly loved – and continues to love Reeva,” said Oscar Pistorius, who told a court last year that he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for a dangerous nighttime intruder.
Prosecutors allege Oscar Pistorius, 27, who is out on bail, intentionally killed Reeva Steenkamp after an argument.
Oscar Pistorius said that he is consumed by grief on the first anniversary of the day that he fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
“The pain and sadness – especially for Reeva’s parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow,” Oscar Pistorius said.
“The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
The statement from Oscar Pistorius was unusual because his uncle, Arnold, has normally been quoted in statements from his camp, which has sought to shield the runner from intense media and public interest in a case that transfixed many people around the world.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, plans to attend the trial in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria. No members of Reeva Steenkamp’s immediate family have attended any of Oscar Pistorius’ previous court dates.
Oscar Pistorius also faces other firearms-related charges.
Oscar Pistorius was the first double-amputee to run at the world championships and the Olympics. He faces a possible life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison before the chance of parole if he is convicted of premeditated murder in Reeva Steenkamp’s killing.
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Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was served with new indictment papers Wednesday containing two extra charges believed to allege that he recklessly shot his gun out the open sunroof of a car last year and fired someone else’s handgun at a restaurant weeks before he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius has already been indicted on a main charge of murder for the February 14 shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp and another firearm charge for illegal possession of ammunition in his home.
The double-amputee Olympian now faces the two additional charges relating to firing guns in public.
Oscar Pistorius will likely face all four charges at his trial starting in March, although his lawyers can argue against the new gun charges being added to his current indictment as the offenses are alleged to have taken place in Johannesburg, in a different court jurisdiction to the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp at his upscale villa in the South African capital, Pretoria, in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day.
Oscar Pistorius faces two additional charges relating to firing guns in public
His lawyers were served with the new papers, South Africa’s national prosecution spokesman Nathi Mncube told The Associated Press.
“What happened today is: Mr. Pistorius was served with a new indictment,” Nathi Mncube said.
“We have to advise him [of the extra charges] to accord him with enough time to prepare his defense.”
Nathi Mncube declined to give the exact details of the new charges, only saying they “relate to the contravention of the firearms act.”
He also said there had been no indication from Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers if they would challenge the adding of the charges to his indictment for the trial.
Prosecutors sought special permission to include the two gun charges against Oscar Pistorius on the indictment because they did not fall in the same jurisdiction. Permission was granted by South Africa’s director of public prosecutions last month.
It’s reported in South Africa that the new charges relate to two alleged incidents where Oscar Pistorius recklessly shot a gun in public: The first when the Paralympic is alleged to have fired his own licensed 9mm handgun – the gun used to kill Reeva Steenkamp – out the open sunroof of a car in Johannesburg while traveling with friends last year.
The prosecutor in Oscar Pistorius case said the dates of 3 to 20 March had been mutually agreed for the trial at a hearing at Pretoria magistrates’ court.
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The prosecution handed a copy of the indictment to Oscar Pistorius.
Oscar Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.
He was granted bail in February and has since resumed some low-key training.
During Monday’s brief hearing, prosecutor Gerrie Nel also said he planned to transfer case to the high court: “We have prepared the indictment.”
Oscar Pistorius was also indicted on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
The double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
His arrest in February stunned many South Africans who saw him as a national sporting hero after his long legal battle to be able to take part in the Olympics.
State prosecutors are arguing that the killing was premeditated, a charge which carries a sentence of life imprisonment. They say Oscar Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp intentionally after a fight.
But the athlete says he shot his girlfriend through the bathroom door of his home in Pretoria after mistaking her for a burglar.
The prosecution handed over details of its case against Oscar Pistorius at Monday’s hearing, including a witness list and forensic reports.
Much depends on ballistic evidence from the bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was shot.
South African newspapers have reported that at least some of that forensic evidence appears to back up OScar Pistorius’s version of events.
However, the prosecution is expected to call witnesses who will say the Olympic runner was preoccupied with guns, and had been arguing with his girlfriend.
Last week, the police wrapped up their six-month investigation into Reeva Steenkamp’s killing.
“The South African Police Service is hopeful that justice will prevail,” a statement from the office of South Africa’s national police commissioner read.
Oscar Pistorius returned to court on what would have been Reeva Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.
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