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Pistorius trial: Crime scene photographs shown | Pistorius trial: Crime scene photographs shown |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Photographs of the bloody scene at the house of Oscar Pistorius have been shown to court at the South African Olympic athlete's trial in Pretoria. | Photographs of the bloody scene at the house of Oscar Pistorius have been shown to court at the South African Olympic athlete's trial in Pretoria. |
His defence team say the police crime scene photographer failed to label his pictures correctly, which he denies. | His defence team say the police crime scene photographer failed to label his pictures correctly, which he denies. |
Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he thought she was an intruder. | Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he thought she was an intruder. |
The prosecution says he intentionally shot the model after an argument at his house on Valentine's Day 2013. | The prosecution says he intentionally shot the model after an argument at his house on Valentine's Day 2013. |
Photographer Bennie Van Staden was being cross-examined for the second day by defence lawyer Barry Roux on details of the photographs and what he touched at the home of Mr Pistorius. | |
Mr Roux says the images indicate that evidence was moved around in violation of procedure during the investigation of the killing. | |
Mr Van Staden took hundreds of images at the scene, including several of the cricket bat that Mr Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door as well as blood-soaked towels, two mobile phones, bullet casings and a gun. | |
He was called to the scene at about 04:50 local time (02:50 GMT) and took pictures of the accused and the deceased, as well as pictures of the rooms of the house. | |
He described nine photographs that he took of Mr Pistorius soon after the shooting, with the athlete wearing blood-soaked shorts in the garage of his home. | |
Photographs examined | |
Mr Roux has challenged previous police witnesses over details of their movements in a bid to uncover contradictions that support his argument that the investigation was bungled. | |
In court on Tuesday, Mr Roux painstakingly examined photographs taken by Mr Van Staden and another police officer and pointed out objects that appeared in different positions in the images. | |
He also used data on each photo to suggest that the two policemen were taking pictures in the same room at the same point, despite Mr Van Staden testifying that he had worked alone. | |
According to times on the photographs, both Mr Van Staden and the other police officer, identified as Colonel Motha, were in the bathroom at the same time. | |
"You did not see Colonel Motha?" Mr Roux asked Mr Van Staden, who said he did not. "How big is this bathroom?" Mr Roux replied. | |
The athlete's lawyer also challenged Mr Van Staden over two images of Mr Pistorius' bedroom, which showed tissues, a CD and a remote control in different positions. | |
"How does it happen that there's such a great disturbance of that scene?" Roux asked. | |
Mr Van Staden said he did not know who had moved the items, but added that he remembered the CD had previously been under the bed. | |
The trial is expected to call on more than 100 witnesses. It had been set to last for three weeks, but looks likely to be extended. | The trial is expected to call on more than 100 witnesses. It had been set to last for three weeks, but looks likely to be extended. |
The state is seeking to convince the court that Mr Pistorius deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp - a 29-year-old model, reality TV star and law graduate - following an argument. | The state is seeking to convince the court that Mr Pistorius deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp - a 29-year-old model, reality TV star and law graduate - following an argument. |
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 and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty, the 27-year-old - a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. |