This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26556805
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Pistorius forensic handling queried | Pistorius forensic handling queried |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police followed a "trail of blood" up the stairs after being called to Oscar Pistorius' house, a senior officer has told the athlete's murder trial. | Police followed a "trail of blood" up the stairs after being called to Oscar Pistorius' house, a senior officer has told the athlete's murder trial. |
| Col Schoombie van Rensburg said he found the South African Paralympian in a "very emotional state". | Col Schoombie van Rensburg said he found the South African Paralympian in a "very emotional state". |
| Earlier, a forensics expert defended police handling of evidence. | Earlier, a forensics expert defended police handling of evidence. |
| Mr Pistorius denies murder, saying he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 after mistaking her for an intruder. | Mr Pistorius denies murder, saying he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 after mistaking her for 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. |
| 'Marks on door' | 'Marks on door' |
| Col Van Rensburg, who was initially in charge of the crime scene, said he immediately gave orders for it to be secured. | Col Van Rensburg, who was initially in charge of the crime scene, said he immediately gave orders for it to be secured. |
| Defence lawyer Barry Roux has said that evidence from the scene subsequently went missing. | Defence lawyer Barry Roux has said that evidence from the scene subsequently went missing. |
| Col Van Rensburg described a "trail of blood" leading up the stairs and spots of blood on chairs in the living room. | |
| The court was shown photographs of the crime scene, which showed blood on the stair walls. | The court was shown photographs of the crime scene, which showed blood on the stair walls. |
| Col Van Rensburg said there was a spatter of blood on the first floor landing. | Col Van Rensburg said there was a spatter of blood on the first floor landing. |
| He said there were trophies and medals inside the house and a jacuzzi, where there was no blood, so he gave orders for the door to be locked. | He said there were trophies and medals inside the house and a jacuzzi, where there was no blood, so he gave orders for the door to be locked. |
| He said he found the toilet door, through which Ms Steenkamp had been shot, locked. | He said he found the toilet door, through which Ms Steenkamp had been shot, locked. |
| Mr Pistorius was in the kitchen, pacing up and down, Col Van Rensburg told the court. | |
| He asked the athlete what happened, but "he was very emotional. He didn't understand", Col Van Rensburg added. | |
| Earlier, Mr Roux asked a forensic science expert, police colonel Johan Vermeulen, why he had failed to notice marks on the bottom of the door. | Earlier, Mr Roux 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 shot Ms Steenkamp accidentally, 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. |
| Before Col Van Rensburg began his testimony, photographs of Ms Steenkamp's bloodied head and face were shown in court, prompting Mr Pistorius to vomit. | Before Col Van Rensburg began his testimony, photographs of Ms Steenkamp's bloodied head and face were shown in court, prompting Mr Pistorius to vomit. |
| He was sick several times on Monday while evidence from the post mortem examination was presented to court and has also cried on several occasions. | He was sick several times on Monday while evidence from the post mortem examination was presented to court and has also cried on several occasions. |
| The trial, now in its ninth day, is expected to call on over 100 witnesses. | The trial, now in its ninth day, 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, reality TV star and law graduate - 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, reality TV star and law graduate - 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. |