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Oscar Pistorius trial: Bullet-marked toilet door displayed in courtroom Oscar Pistorius trial: Bullet-marked toilet door displayed in courtroom
(35 minutes later)
The bullet-marked toilet through which Oscar Pistorius shot and killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was displayed in the courtroom as the athlete's murder trial entered its eighth day. Oscar Pistorius may not have been wearing his prosthetic legs when he tried to break down his locked toilet door with a cricket bat, soon after shooting his girlfriend, his murder trial heard.
Lt Col JG Vermeulen, from the Forensic Science Lab, demonstrated how Pistorius might have hit the door after Ms Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day last year. The mark where the bat hit the door is approximately 1.85 metres high. Lt Col Johannes Vermeulen demonstrated how Pistorius might have hit the door after Ms Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day last year.
The athlete's defence led by Barry Roux argues Pistorius was on "his stumps" when he shot through the locked lavatory door fearing there was an intruder in the house. State prosecutors claim Pistorius deliberately shot through the door knowing Ms Steenkmap was inside following a domestic dispute. He told the court a cricket bat was used to strike the toilet door and got on his knees and swung the bat against the door, demonstrating that the marks made on it are consistent with a person swinging from such a height.
This appears to contradict Pistorius’s statement in his bail application last year, where he claimed that, after shooting through the cubicle door, he "rushed back into the bedroom, screamed for help, and put on" his prosthetic legs. He returned to the bathroom and struck it with the bat.
This evidence appeared to take Pistorius’s defence counsel by surprise, and they requested an adjournment.
The door has been viewed as crucial evidence in the case, and was removed from the athlete's home in the hours after he shoot Ms Steenkamp. The marks of the door could the determine the angle and height from which Ms Pistorius fired.The door has been viewed as crucial evidence in the case, and was removed from the athlete's home in the hours after he shoot Ms Steenkamp. The marks of the door could the determine the angle and height from which Ms Pistorius fired.
Lt Col JG Vermeulen recreates how Oscar Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked lavatory door in this Pretoria home last year Earlier, Darren Fresco, a one-time of Pistorius who was identified by two witnesses as being with the athlete on two occasions when a gun was fired in public, painted a picture of a man with a passion for guns and speed. The athlete's defence led by Barry Roux argues Pistorius was on "his stumps" when he shot through the locked lavatory door fearing there was an intruder in the house. State prosecutors claim Pistorius deliberately shot through the door knowing Ms Steenkmap was inside following a domestic dispute.
Earlier, Darren Fresco, a one-time of Pistorius who was identified by two witnesses as being with the athlete on two occasions when a gun was fired in public, painted a picture of a man with a passion for guns and speed.
The IT engineer claimed that, in one occasion, Pistorius was driving at 200 km/h and that he had taken a picture of the speedometer to prove it. The athlete’s defence argued Mr Fresco was driving the car and, therefore, was fabricating evidence in court.
Yesterday, Mr Fresco told the court he asked the athlete if he "was f***ing mad" after Pistorius fired a shot out of the sunroof of a car following an altercation with traffic police.Yesterday, Mr Fresco told the court he asked the athlete if he "was f***ing mad" after Pistorius fired a shot out of the sunroof of a car following an altercation with traffic police.
"Then without prior warning, he shot out of the sunroof," he told Pretoria's High Court. "Apologies for my language, my Lady. But I asked him if he was f***ing mad." During cross-examination, Mr Roux questioned his version of events arguing Samantha Taylor, Pistorius' former girlfriend, who was also in the car that day, told the court both Mr Fresco and Pistorius said they wanted to "shoot a robot" and laughed.
Pistorius allegedly told the police officer he couldn't "touch another man's gun", which was on the back seat of the car. 
During cross-examination, defence counsel Barry Roux questioned his version of events arguing Samantha Taylor, Pistorius' former girlfriend, who was also in the car that day, told the court both Mr Fresco and Pistorius said they wanted to "shoot a robot" and laughed.
Mr Fresco said he could not remember saying that.Mr Fresco said he could not remember saying that.
Mr Fresco also told the court Pistorius asked him to take the blame after his gun, a Glock 27 .40 calibre pistol, went off under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in a separate incident in early 2013.Mr Fresco also told the court Pistorius asked him to take the blame after his gun, a Glock 27 .40 calibre pistol, went off under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in a separate incident in early 2013.
Mr Fresco said he told the sprinter he was "one up"- meaning there was a bullet loaded into the chamber of the gun - before passing him the gun. He said he knew of Pistorius' "big love' for guns and assumed he "had competency with it".Mr Fresco said he told the sprinter he was "one up"- meaning there was a bullet loaded into the chamber of the gun - before passing him the gun. He said he knew of Pistorius' "big love' for guns and assumed he "had competency with it".
Pistorius allegedly asked him to take the blame for it because there was too much media attention around him. Being a friend, Mr Fresco said he agreed to do it "with pleasure".
Last week, Pistorius pleaded not guilty of murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder.Last week, Pistorius pleaded not guilty of murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder.
Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed  his girlfriend following a domestic dispute. If convicted of murder he will almost certainly receive a life sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years.Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed  his girlfriend following a domestic dispute. If convicted of murder he will almost certainly receive a life sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years.
The case continues.The case continues.