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Oscar Pistorius takes to the stand: ‘I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect her’ Oscar Pistorius takes to the stand: ‘I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect her’
(35 minutes later)
A tearful, stuttering and seemingly grief-stricken Oscar Pistorius finally took to the stand at his murder trial on Monday, and apologised to the family of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.A tearful, stuttering and seemingly grief-stricken Oscar Pistorius finally took to the stand at his murder trial on Monday, and apologised to the family of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
“I will start my evidence by tendering an apology,” he said. “I would like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Steenkamp, her family and friends.”“I will start my evidence by tendering an apology,” he said. “I would like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Steenkamp, her family and friends.”
“I can’t imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness I have caused you and your family.“I can’t imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness I have caused you and your family.
"You're the first people I think of when I wake up. You're the first people I pray for. I was trying to protect Reeva. When she went to bed that night, she felt loved."You're the first people I think of when I wake up. You're the first people I pray for. I was trying to protect Reeva. When she went to bed that night, she felt loved.
“I’ve tried to put my pen to paper many times to write to you but no words would ever suffice.”“I’ve tried to put my pen to paper many times to write to you but no words would ever suffice.”
At the beginning of the sixth week of the trial at the North Gauteng High Court, Pistorius also revealed that he has been taking anti-depressants since the accident happened, and other medication to help him sleep at night.At the beginning of the sixth week of the trial at the North Gauteng High Court, Pistorius also revealed that he has been taking anti-depressants since the accident happened, and other medication to help him sleep at night.
"I'm scared to sleep,” he said tearfully. “I have terrible nightmares about what happened that night. I can smell blood. I wake up terrified.""I'm scared to sleep,” he said tearfully. “I have terrible nightmares about what happened that night. I can smell blood. I wake up terrified."
Formerly a firearm enthusiast, Pistorius said he “never wants to be a near a firearm again”, and told the court of one occasion when he woke in a panic in the middle of the night, and hid in a cupboard, and telephoned his sister who came round to comfort him.Formerly a firearm enthusiast, Pistorius said he “never wants to be a near a firearm again”, and told the court of one occasion when he woke in a panic in the middle of the night, and hid in a cupboard, and telephoned his sister who came round to comfort him.
"I climbed into a cupboard and I phoned my sister to come and sit by me, which she did for a while," he said. "I'm just in a complete state of terror. I fall asleep and wake up like that."
He continued by talking through his childhood, telling a story of how his mother, who died when he was 15, was called to his school after a fight with another boy who had been bullying him and who had ripped his shirt.He continued by talking through his childhood, telling a story of how his mother, who died when he was 15, was called to his school after a fight with another boy who had been bullying him and who had ripped his shirt.
“My mother said ‘It’s right that you should stand up for what you believe.’ She said she won’t be back. And she gave the shirt to the [other boy’s] mother, and said to bring it back when it was mended.”“My mother said ‘It’s right that you should stand up for what you believe.’ She said she won’t be back. And she gave the shirt to the [other boy’s] mother, and said to bring it back when it was mended.”
Pistorius is likely to be in the witness stand for a week or more, when he will be tested on his version of events of how his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp came to be shot and killed in his house in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s day last year.Pistorius is likely to be in the witness stand for a week or more, when he will be tested on his version of events of how his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp came to be shot and killed in his house in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s day last year.
So far, state prosecutors have painted a picture of a gun-loving, possessive and jealous boyfriend who often snapped at Ms Steenkamp and accused her of flirting with other men.
In a text message sent on 27 January, Ms Steenkamp wrote: "I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me". The model said she felt "picked on" and "attacked" by the one person she deserved protection from - referring to the athlete.
Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot the model by mistake thinking she was an intruder in his home. Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed the 29-year old model following a domestic dispute.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa and Pistorius's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Masipa, assisted by two assessors.
The case continues.