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Pistorius forensic handling queried Pistorius forensic handling queried
(35 minutes later)
A forensics expert has defended police handling of evidence from the scene where athlete Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.A forensics expert has defended police handling of evidence from the scene where athlete Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Defence lawyers allege that evidence from the scene went missing and that investigative techniques such as microscopic analysis were not used. Defence lawyers allege that evidence from the scene disappeared and that investigative techniques such as microscopic analysis were not used.
Mr Pistorius says he mistakenly shot Ms Steenkamp through a bathroom door, believing she was an intruder.Mr Pistorius says he mistakenly shot Ms Steenkamp through a bathroom door, believing she was an intruder.
The prosecution says he tried to beat down the door and then fired the gun.The prosecution says he tried to beat down the door and then fired the gun.
Defence lawyer Mr Roux said that pieces of the door pictured at the scene subsequently went missing, and that the door was improperly stored in a body bag.Defence lawyer Mr Roux said that pieces of the door pictured at the scene subsequently went missing, and that the door was improperly stored in a body bag.
Mr Roux also asked forensic expert police colonel Johan Vermeulen why he had failed to notice marks on the bottom of the door. Mr Roux also asked a forensic science expert, police colonel Johan Vermeulen, why he had failed to notice marks on the bottom of the door.
The lawyer said that the marks were caused by Mr Pistorius trying to kick down the door using his prosthetic legs.The lawyer said that the marks were caused by Mr Pistorius trying to kick down the door using his prosthetic legs.
However, Col Vermeulen told the court in the South Africa capital Pretoria on Wednesday that the angle of marks on the door proved that Mr Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the door repeatedly with a cricket bat. However, Col Vermeulen told the court in the South African capital Pretoria on Wednesday that the angle of marks on the door proved that Mr Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the door repeatedly with a cricket bat.
This contradicts testimony previously given by Mr Pistorius in which he said that he put on his prosthetic legs before he attempted to break down the door with the bat. This contradicted testimony previously given by Mr Pistorius in which he said that he had put on his prosthetic legs before he attempted to break down the door with the bat.
Correspondents say whether or not the athlete was on his prosthetic limbs when breaking down the door is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp, or expose inconsistencies in it. Correspondents say whether or not the athlete was on his prosthetic limbs when breaking down the door is important because it could match parts of his story that he shot Ms Steenkamp accidentally, or expose inconsistencies in it.
The damaged toilet door, with four bullet holes, is in court along with a replica of the bathroom where Ms Steenkamp died.The damaged toilet door, with four bullet holes, is in court along with a replica of the bathroom where Ms Steenkamp died.
Colonel Schoombie van Rensburg, the police officer who initially took charge of the crime scene, is now testifying.
Before he started, photographs of Ms Steenkamp's bloodied head and face were shown in court, prompting Mr Pistorius to vomit. He spent much of Monday being sick while evidence from the post mortem examination was presented to court and has also cried on several occasions.
The trial is now in its ninth day and is expected to call on over 100 witnesses.The trial is now in its ninth day and is expected to call on over 100 witnesses.
The state is seeking to convince the court that Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, and reality TV star, had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed her. The state is seeking to convince the court that Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and reality TV star, had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed her.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old, a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner", could face life imprisonment.If found guilty, the 27-year-old, a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner", could face life imprisonment.