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| Oscar Pistorius to testify again at murder trial | Oscar Pistorius to testify again at murder trial |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is due to give evidence for a second day at his murder trial. | South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is due to give evidence for a second day at his murder trial. |
| At the start of his testimony on Monday, he made a tearful apology to the family of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot dead last year. | At the start of his testimony on Monday, he made a tearful apology to the family of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot dead last year. |
| The trial was adjourned after Mr Pistorius was overcome with emotion. | The trial was adjourned after Mr Pistorius was overcome with emotion. |
| Prosecutors accuse him of deliberately killing Ms Steenkamp in the couple's home. The athlete has denied this, arguing he mistook her for an intruder. | Prosecutors accuse him of deliberately killing Ms Steenkamp in the couple's home. The athlete has denied this, arguing he mistook her for an intruder. |
| If found guilty, Mr Pistorius could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty, Mr Pistorius could face life imprisonment. |
| 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. |
| 'Pain and sorrow' | 'Pain and sorrow' |
| On Monday, he told Ms Steenkamp's relatives that there "hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family". | On Monday, he 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 can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family," he said. | "I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family," he said. |
| "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." |
| 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 admitted to taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills, saying he was "scared to sleep" and suffered from "terrible nightmares" | Mr Pistorius admitted to taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills, saying he was "scared to sleep" and suffered from "terrible nightmares" |
| He also told the court that he had regularly been confronted to violence, including break-ins and assaults, while he was growing up. | He also told the court that he had regularly been confronted to violence, including break-ins and assaults, while he was growing up. |
| The athlete became emotional when he detailed how important religion had been to him and Reeva. His counsel, Barry Roux, eventually asked for an adjournment. | The athlete became emotional when he detailed how important religion had been to him and Reeva. His counsel, Barry Roux, eventually asked for an adjournment. |
| Correspondents in court said the defence team was trying to paint a picture of a man whose life had been peppered with tragedy, fear and vulnerability. | Correspondents in court said the defence team was trying to paint a picture of a man whose life had been peppered with tragedy, fear and vulnerability. |
| Prior to Mr Pistorius' appearance, the trial had already heard 15 days of prosecution-led testimony, which relied on accounts from neighbours and specialist ballistics experts, as well forensic and mobile phone evidence. | Prior to Mr Pistorius' appearance, the trial had already heard 15 days of prosecution-led testimony, which 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 at least three 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. |