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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Forensic expert says athlete 'was not wearing prosthetic legs' when he shot Reeva Steenkamp through locked door | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 Johannes Vermeulen demonstrated how Pistorius might have hit the door after Ms Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day last year. | Lt Col Johannes Vermeulen demonstrated how Pistorius might have hit the door after Ms Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day last year. |
| 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. | 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 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. |
| The defence argues the first set of bangs heard by neighbours were gunshots, followed by a second set of bangs- the sound of Pistorius hitting the door with a cricket bat. | |
| 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 on 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 on the door could the determine the angle and height from which Ms Pistorius fired. |
| Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence suggesting the athlete was wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the lavatory's door with a cricket bat 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. | Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence suggesting the athlete was wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the lavatory's door with a cricket bat 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 friend 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. | Earlier, Darren Fresco, a one-time friend 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". |
| 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. |