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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete explains text messages where Reeva Steenkamp said she was 'scared' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Oscar Pistorius returned to the witness stand at his murder trial today, answering questions from his defence team about the text messages he sent to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp before her death. | |
| The athlete read a conversation from the mobile messaging service WhatsApp, in which the couple argued over an incident that took place at an engagement party, where he accused her of flirting with other men and demanded they leave early. Ms Steenkamp said she felt "picked on" and she was scared of him "sometimes". | |
| Pistorius said: "My lady we were at an engagement party. It was a bad day in our relationship." | |
| The athlete told the court he saw the model speaking to a man he didn't know and felt "insecure and jealous". | The athlete told the court he saw the model speaking to a man he didn't know and felt "insecure and jealous". |
| Yesterday, an emotional Pistorius began his testimony by apologising to the Steenkamp family. | Yesterday, an emotional Pistorius began his testimony by apologising to the Steenkamp family. |
| “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." | |
| Pistorius revealed that he has been taking anti-depressants since the accident happened, and other medication to help him sleep at night. | Pistorius 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." |
| The athlete told the court he witnessed numerous break-ins growing up in South Africa, was attacked at a party and claimed to have been followed by a car into his gated community and shot on the highway. | The athlete told the court he witnessed numerous break-ins growing up in South Africa, was attacked at a party and claimed to have been followed by a car into his gated community and shot on the highway. |
| Defence counsel Barry Roux secured an early adjournment arguing Pistorius was distressed and exhausted. Pistorius told the court he was "tired" and his thoughts were "overbearing". | Defence counsel Barry Roux secured an early adjournment arguing Pistorius was distressed and exhausted. Pistorius told the court he was "tired" and his thoughts were "overbearing". |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The case continues. |