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| Pistorius trial: Police 'disturbed' evidence at scene | Pistorius trial: Police 'disturbed' evidence at scene |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Oscar Pistorius' defence team accused a South African police photographer of mishandling the crime scene during day 12 of his trial in Pretoria. | Oscar Pistorius' defence team accused a South African police photographer of mishandling the crime scene during day 12 of his trial in Pretoria. |
| The athlete's lawyer said some images showed "great disturbance" was caused to the evidence but the police officer insisted he had followed procedure. | The athlete's lawyer said some images showed "great disturbance" was caused to the evidence but the police officer insisted he had followed procedure. |
| 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. | The prosecution says he intentionally shot the model after an argument. |
| The court also heard from a police ballistics expert on Tuesday, but the trial was adjourned before he explained the key points of his investigation into the trajectory of the bullets from Mr Pistorius' gun. | The court also heard from a police ballistics expert on Tuesday, but the trial was adjourned before he explained the key points of his investigation into the trajectory of the bullets from Mr Pistorius' gun. |
| Captain Christian Mangena said he had measured Mr Pistorius with his prosthetic legs on and off to try to determine whether he was wearing them or not. He is expected to disclose the results of his inquiries on Wednesday. | Captain Christian Mangena said he had measured Mr Pistorius with his prosthetic legs on and off to try to determine whether he was wearing them or not. He is expected to disclose the results of his inquiries on Wednesday. |
| Correspondents say whether or not Mr Pistorius was on his prosthetic limbs is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp at his house on Valentine's Day 2013. | Correspondents say whether or not Mr Pistorius was on his prosthetic limbs is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp at his house on Valentine's Day 2013. |
| Images examined | Images examined |
| Photographs of the bloody scene at Mr Pistorius' house were shown to court as police photographer Bennie Van Staden was cross-examined by defence lawyer Barry Roux for a second day. | Photographs of the bloody scene at Mr Pistorius' house were shown to court as police photographer Bennie Van Staden was cross-examined by defence lawyer Barry Roux for a second day. |
| Mr Roux painstakingly examined pictures taken by Mr Van Staden and another police officer, and said evidence had been moved around in violation of police procedure. | Mr Roux painstakingly examined pictures taken by Mr Van Staden and another police officer, and said evidence had been moved around in violation of police procedure. |
| He challenged Mr Van Staden over two images of Mr Pistorius' bedroom, which showed tissues, a CD and a remote control in different positions. | He 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?" Mr Roux asked. | "How does it happen that there's such a great disturbance of that scene?" Mr Roux asked. |
| Mr Van Staden admitted that he had moved bloodied towels and a duvet to check for further evidence, but said that he had taken pictures of the original scene before doing so. | Mr Van Staden admitted that he had moved bloodied towels and a duvet to check for further evidence, but said that he had taken pictures of the original scene before doing so. |
| Mr Roux also used metadata 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. | Mr Roux also used metadata 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. | 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 ironically replied. | "You did not see Colonel Motha?" Mr Roux asked Mr Van Staden, who said he did not. "How big is this bathroom?" Mr Roux ironically replied. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Mr Roux's assertion that the two policemen had been working together, asking why it was that the other officer had not been captured in any of Mr Van Staden's pictures. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Mr Roux's assertion that the two policemen had been working together, asking why it was that the other officer had not been captured in any of Mr Van Staden's pictures. |
| Mr Nel also said that debating whether the cricket bat that Mr Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door had been moved "millimetres" for a photograph did not change the fact that it was lying next to a puddle of blood. | |
| Mr Van Staden took hundreds of images at the scene, including several of the bloodied cricket bat as well as bullet casings and a gun. | Mr Van Staden took hundreds of images at the scene, including several of the bloodied cricket bat as well as bullet casings and a gun. |
| He was called to the scene at around 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 was called to the scene at around 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. | 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. |
| Errors by police | Errors by police |
| 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. | 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. |
| So far, the defence has pointed out several errors by police investigators, including an officer handling the suspected murder weapon without gloves and another stealing from the house. | So far, the defence has pointed out several errors by police investigators, including an officer handling the suspected murder weapon without gloves and another stealing from the house. |
| 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. |