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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete was 'besotted' with girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Oscar Pistorius told his murder trial he was "besotted" with Reeva Steenkamp as he returned to the witness stand to answer questions about the text messages they had sent each other before her death. | |
| The athlete began by reading 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" in late January. | |
| Referring to the message, 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". Pistorius said he "wasn't kind" to her as he "should have been". | The athlete told the court he saw the model speaking to a man he didn't know and felt "insecure and jealous". Pistorius said he "wasn't kind" to her as he "should have been". |
| He said the couple had some disagreements but insisted they were in a loving relationship, and often exchanged messages of affection and compliments. He often referred to her as "my angel". | He said the couple had some disagreements but insisted they were in a loving relationship, and often exchanged messages of affection and compliments. He often referred to her as "my angel". |
| Pistorius told the court he was "besotted" with Ms Steenkamp and suggested he was "more into her" at times, than she was into him. He said the model and law graduate understood his needs as an athlete and was very supportive of him. | Pistorius told the court he was "besotted" with Ms Steenkamp and suggested he was "more into her" at times, than she was into him. He said the model and law graduate understood his needs as an athlete and was very supportive of him. |
| For two hours, Pistorius sat on the stand, occasionally holding back tears, reading out page after page of Whatsapp messages shared between the pair, as his defence counsel Barry Roux sought to portray a loving couple in a loving relationship. | |
| He also spoke of the first time he met Ms Steenkamp in November 2012. He denied he had cheated on former girlfriend, Samantha Taylor, when he met Ms Steenkamp, saying the previous relationship had ended. At the start of the trial, the 20-year old student claimed Pistorius had cheated on her with Ms Steenkamp. | |
| 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." | "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. |