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| Oscar Pistorius apologises for killing Reeva Steenkamp | Oscar Pistorius apologises for killing Reeva Steenkamp |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An emotional Oscar Pistorius has started his testimony at his murder trial by apologising to the family of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. | An emotional Oscar Pistorius has started his testimony at his murder trial by apologising to the family of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. |
| In a trembling voice, he said he was "trying to protect" her and said he could not imagine their pain. | In a trembling voice, he said he was "trying to protect" her and said he could not imagine their pain. |
| Mr Pistorius said he suffered "terrible nightmares" and often woke up smelling Ms Steenkamp's blood. | Mr Pistorius said he suffered "terrible nightmares" and often woke up smelling Ms Steenkamp's blood. |
| Prosecutors say he killed her in February 2013 after an argument. He says he mistook her for an intruder. | Prosecutors say he killed her in February 2013 after an argument. He says he mistook her for an intruder. |
| The Paralympic athlete told Ms Steenkamp's relatives that there "hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family". | The Paralympic athlete told Ms Steenkamp's relatives that there "hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family". |
| "I wake up every morning and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family. | "I wake up every morning and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family. |
| "I was simply trying to protect Reeva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night she felt loved. | "I was simply trying to protect Reeva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night she felt loved. |
| "I've tried to put my words on paper many, many times to write to you. But no words will ever suffice." | "I've tried to put my words on paper many, many times to write to you. But no words will ever suffice." |
| In the packed Pretoria courtroom, Ms Steenkamp's mother, June, sat stony-faced while he spoke. | In the packed Pretoria courtroom, Ms Steenkamp's mother, June, sat stony-faced while he spoke. |
| Mr Pistorius said he was taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills. | |
| "I'm scared to sleep, I have terrible nightmares, I can smell blood and wake up terrified," he said. | "I'm scared to sleep, I have terrible nightmares, I can smell blood and wake up terrified," he said. |
| He added that he never wanted to handle a gun again. | He added that he never wanted to handle a gun again. |
| The athlete, 27, told the court about his difficult childhood after being born with parts of both legs missing and needing to wear prosthetic limbs. | The athlete, 27, told the court about his difficult childhood after being born with parts of both legs missing and needing to wear prosthetic limbs. |
| After a recess, Mr Pistorius was asked whether he and his family had been exposed to criminal acts. | |
| He said there had been many break-ins while he was growing up. | |
| Mr Pistorius said he had been shot at on the highway and on another occasion was followed by a car into his gated community. He said he had his gun with him and the two men in the car had sped off. | |
| Mr Pistorius said he was also attacked at a party in December 2012, and had to have stitches in the head. | |
| As he detailed how important religion was to him, Mr Pistorius again became emotional and his counsel, Barry Roux, asked for an adjournment. | |
| The prosecution said that as long as this was not a daily occurrence there would be no objection and the case will resume on Tuesday morning. | |
| The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in court says the defence team has been trying to paint a picture of a man whose life has been peppered with tragedy, fear and vulnerability. | |
| 'Inexact science' | 'Inexact science' |
| Mr Pistorius was speaking on the first day of the defence case. | |
| Mr Roux said he would call 14 to 17 witnesses to testify on "ballistics, urine emptying, damage to the toilet door, sound, and disability and vulnerability". | |
| Pathologist Jan Botha was the first defence witness. 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
| The pathologist accepted that he was "not a ballistician" after appearing to contradict the state's account of the sequence of shots that killed Ms Steenkamp. | The pathologist accepted that he was "not a ballistician" after appearing to contradict the state's account of the sequence of shots that killed Ms Steenkamp. |
| But he insisted he was not there to "win the case for either the defence or the prosecution" after being accused by Mr Nel of making his findings fit with the defence case. | But he insisted he was not there to "win the case for either the defence or the prosecution" after being accused by Mr Nel of making his findings fit with the defence case. |
| "I'm here to assist the court," Mr Botha said. | "I'm here to assist the court," Mr Botha said. |
| Mr Pistorius held his head in his hands and sobbed loudly as Ms Steenkamp's injuries were discussed. | 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. |
| 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. |
| The defence is also likely to address key questions, including allegations that Mr Pistorius was reckless with guns and in not checking 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 in not checking 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, Valentine's Day. | 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, Valentine's Day. |
| 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. |