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Oscar Pistorius trial: Star found praying over body | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial he found the South African Paralympic star praying over the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as she lay dying. | |
In the trial's first account of the moments after the shooting, Johan Stipp said he tried to revive Ms Steenkamp. | |
During Dr Stipp's testimony, Mr Pistorius cried and seemed to retch. | During Dr Stipp's testimony, Mr Pistorius cried and seemed to retch. |
The double amputee denies intentionally killing her, saying he mistook the 29-year-old model for an intruder. | The double amputee denies intentionally killing her, saying he mistook the 29-year-old model for an intruder. |
If found guilty, the 27-year-old could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty, the 27-year-old could face life imprisonment. |
Dr Stipp said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair. | Dr Stipp said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair. |
At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius. | At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius. |
Recalling the night of 14 February 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots. | Recalling the night of 14 February 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots. |
He said he had found Mr Pistorius kneeling by her body. | He said he had found Mr Pistorius kneeling by her body. |
"I shot her," the Paralympic star told him. "I thought she was a burglar." | "I shot her," the Paralympic star told him. "I thought she was a burglar." |
Dr Stipp said Mr Pistorius had been in an emotional state. Fearing he might hurt himself, he had asked where the gun was. | Dr Stipp said Mr Pistorius had been in an emotional state. Fearing he might hurt himself, he had asked where the gun was. |
Earlier, defence lawyer Barry Roux said that two neighbours, 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. | Earlier, defence lawyer Barry Roux said that two neighbours, 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," Mr Roux said. | "Your interpretation [of events] is designed to incriminate the accused and it's unfortunate," Mr Roux said. |
Mr Johnson denied this. He insisted that he had heard a woman screaming "help", followed by a man doing the same. | Mr Johnson denied this. He insisted that he had heard a woman screaming "help", followed by a man doing the same. |
On Wednesday, a witness said the athlete had been responsible for a weapon being fired at a restaurant last year. | On Wednesday, a witness said the athlete had been responsible for a weapon being fired at a restaurant last year. |
Boxer Kevin Lerena told the court Mr Pistorius had asked the owner of the gun to take the blame after the incident in January 2013. | Boxer Kevin Lerena told the court Mr Pistorius had asked the owner of the gun to take the blame after the incident in January 2013. |
Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally possessing ammunition, which he denies. | Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally possessing ammunition, which he denies. |
Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality TV star, was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year at Mr Pistorius's home in Pretoria. | Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality TV star, was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year at Mr Pistorius's home in Pretoria. |
The arrest of a national sporting hero, who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics, astounded South Africa. | The arrest of a national sporting hero, who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics, astounded South Africa. |
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa. | There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa. |
Much of the case will depend on ballistic evidence from the scene of the shooting, correspondents say. | Much of the case will depend on ballistic evidence from the scene of the shooting, correspondents say. |
The state is seeking to convince the court that Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed his girlfriend. |