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Oscar Pistorius found praying over Reeva Steenkamp body Oscar Pistorius found praying over Reeva Steenkamp body
(about 1 hour 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.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.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, a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner", could face life imprisonment.
Dr Stipp said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair. 'Crying all the time'
At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius. Dr Stipp, who was testifying on the fourth day of the trial at the high court in the capital, Pretoria, said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair.
Recalling the night of 14 February 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots. It was at this point in the testimony that a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius.
He said he had found Mr Pistorius kneeling by her body. Recalling the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots and after making sure it was safe, went to help.
When he got to Mr Pistorius' house, he found the athlete kneeling by Ms Steenkamp, with "his left hand on her right groin, and his right hand - the second and third fingers - in her mouth".
"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."
"Oscar was crying all the time,'' Dr Stipp said. "He was praying to God [saying] `Please let her live.'""Oscar was crying all the time,'' Dr Stipp said. "He was praying to God [saying] `Please let her live.'"
Pistorius said he would dedicate "his life and her life to God" if she lived, according to the testimony. Dr Stipp said Mr Pistorius had been in an emotional state, and fearing he might hurt himself, 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. Before the trial was adjourned until Friday, Dr Stipp also testified that he saw a bathroom light on at Mr Pistorius's house and a figure moving from right to left as a woman screamed.
The trial has been adjourned until Friday. The defence case is that all the screams came from Mr Pistorius.
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. He rejected suggestions that the initial screams could have come from a man.
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. The state is seeking to convince the court that Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp, a model, reality TV star and law graduate, had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed his girlfriend.
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.
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.