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Oscar Pistorius trial resumes with start of defence case Oscar Pistorius trial resumes with start of defence case
(about 1 hour later)
The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has resumed in South Africa with the start of the defence case.The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has resumed in South Africa with the start of the defence case.
The athlete's defence team called on pathologist Jan Botha as its first witness after a week's adjournment.The athlete's defence team called on pathologist Jan Botha as its first witness after a week's adjournment.
Mr Pistorius is expected to take the stand after Mr Botha to tell the court how and why he shot his girlfriend.Mr Pistorius is expected to take the stand after Mr Botha to tell the court how and why he shot his girlfriend.
Prosecutors say he killed Reeva Steenkamp after an argument. He denies shooting deliberately, saying he mistook her for an intruder.Prosecutors say he killed Reeva Steenkamp after an argument. He denies shooting deliberately, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
The trial in Pretoria was postponed for a week after one of the assessors assisting the judge fell ill.The trial in Pretoria was postponed for a week after one of the assessors assisting the judge fell ill.
Under South African law, there is no jury system and two assessors, normally lawyers or retired magistrates, help the judge reach a decision in serious cases.Under South African law, there is no jury system and two assessors, normally lawyers or retired magistrates, help the judge reach a decision in serious cases.
Defence lawyer Barry Roux said he will call 14 to 17 witnesses in his case to testify on "ballistics, urine emptying, damage to the toilet door, sound, and disability and vulnerability."
'Inexact science'
Mr Botha, a private pathologist who said he has carried out about 25,000 autopsies, was asked about gastric emptying and calculating Ms Steenkamp's time of death.
Earlier in the trial, the state called forensic pathologist Gert Saayman who said vegetable matter in Ms Steenkamp's stomach suggested she had eaten around two hours prior to her death, which contradicted Mr Pistorius' version of events.
Mr Botha disputed this conclusion, saying that determining the time of death through gastric emptying is guesswork, calling it a "highly controversial and inexact science".
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel was fierce in his cross-examination of Mr Botha and sought to suggest that his evidence was unreliable since he did not attend Ms Steenkamp's autopsy and worked from photographs.
Contradicting the state's account, Mr Botha said Ms Steenkamp was first shot in the hip, then in the arm. The third bullet hit her hand and the fourth hit her head, he said.
The state said Ms Steenkamp was first shot in the hip, that the second bullet missed, the third bullet hit her arm, and the fourth went through her hand and head.
However, under cross-examination from Mr Nel, the pathologist accepted that he was "not a ballistician".
Mr Pistorius held his head in his hands and sobbed loudly as Ms Steenkamp's injuries were discussed.
'Terrible screams''Terrible screams'
The trial has already heard 15 days of prosecution-led testimony, which has relied on accounts from neighbours and specialist ballistics experts, as well forensic and mobile phone evidence.The trial has already heard 15 days of prosecution-led testimony, which has relied on accounts from neighbours and specialist ballistics experts, as well forensic and mobile phone evidence.
One neighbour, Michelle Burger, told the court she was awoken by a woman's "terrible screams" followed by gun shots.One neighbour, Michelle Burger, told the court she was awoken by a woman's "terrible screams" followed by gun shots.
This could be a decisive week for Mr Pistorius, says the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding.This could be a decisive week for Mr Pistorius, says the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding.
The athlete aims to convince the court that the screams were his, and that he shot Ms Steenkamp through a closed toilet door because he had mistaken her for an intruder.The athlete aims to convince the court that the screams were his, and that he shot Ms Steenkamp through a closed toilet door because he had mistaken her for an intruder.
Defendants who choose to testify are the first defence witnesses in South Africa but Mr Botha was allowed to testify first because of a family illness.Defendants who choose to testify are the first defence witnesses in South Africa but Mr Botha was allowed to testify first because of a family illness.
It is thought that Mr Pistorius will go next. He had been expected to take the stand when the trial was postponed on Friday 28 March.It is thought that Mr Pistorius will go next. He had been expected to take the stand when the trial was postponed on Friday 28 March.
The defence is also likely to address key questions, including allegations that Mr Pistorius was reckless with guns and why he did not check the whereabouts of his girlfriend before he opened fire.The defence is also likely to address key questions, including allegations that Mr Pistorius was reckless with guns and why he did not check the whereabouts of his girlfriend before he opened fire.
Ms Steenkamp, a model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate, was hit by four bullets while in the toilet cubicle of Mr Pistorius' home in Pretoria on 14 February 2013.Ms Steenkamp, a model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate, was hit by four bullets while in the toilet cubicle of Mr Pistorius' home in Pretoria on 14 February 2013.
Mr Pistorius is a double amputee who holds six Paralympic medals and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.Mr Pistorius is a double amputee who holds six Paralympic medals and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.
If found guilty, the 27 year old - dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wore to race - could face life imprisonment.If found guilty, the 27 year old - dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wore to race - could face life imprisonment.