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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete tells court Reeva Steenkamp died in his arms after tragic shooting | Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete tells court Reeva Steenkamp died in his arms after tragic shooting |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| A visibly shaken Oscar Pistorius appeared to be in shock after an extremely graphic photograph of Reeva Steenkamp's head wound was shown in court as State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his cross-examination. | A visibly shaken Oscar Pistorius appeared to be in shock after an extremely graphic photograph of Reeva Steenkamp's head wound was shown in court as State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his cross-examination. |
| Mr Nel, known in South Africa as the 'Pitbull', demanded permission to show a video in which the athlete is seen firing at a watermelon in a shooting range and appears to whisper: "It's softer than a brain, but f**k it's a zombie stopper". | Mr Nel, known in South Africa as the 'Pitbull', demanded permission to show a video in which the athlete is seen firing at a watermelon in a shooting range and appears to whisper: "It's softer than a brain, but f**k it's a zombie stopper". |
| He went on to show a graphic photograph of Ms Steenkamp's head wound caused by a Black Talon bullet that impacted her right temple after Pistorius shot her three times through a locked toilet door on Valentine's Day last year. | He went on to show a graphic photograph of Ms Steenkamp's head wound caused by a Black Talon bullet that impacted her right temple after Pistorius shot her three times through a locked toilet door on Valentine's Day last year. |
| Mr Nel asked the athlete if Ms Steenkamp's head "exploded" just like the watermelon and asked him to look at the photograph, which showed a side view of the model's head, with a mass of blood and human tissue on the back and upper parts, and her eyes closed. | Mr Nel asked the athlete if Ms Steenkamp's head "exploded" just like the watermelon and asked him to look at the photograph, which showed a side view of the model's head, with a mass of blood and human tissue on the back and upper parts, and her eyes closed. |
| "It's time you look at it", he added. A sobbing Pistorius said he didn't have to look because he was at the scene when Ms Steenkamp died. | "It's time you look at it", he added. A sobbing Pistorius said he didn't have to look because he was at the scene when Ms Steenkamp died. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel referred to a video of Pistorius shooting a watermelon at a firing range where the athlete is overheard saying: "It's softer than a brain, but f**k it's a zombie stopper" Mr Nel also demanded the athlete openly admitted he shot and killed his girlfriend. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel referred to a video of Pistorius shooting a watermelon at a firing range where the athlete is overheard saying: "It's softer than a brain, but f**k it's a zombie stopper" Mr Nel also demanded the athlete openly admitted he shot and killed his girlfriend. |
| "You killed Reeva Steenkamp, didn't you?" he asked at the start of questioning. "You made a mistake? You killed a person. You killed Reeva Steenkamp | |
| "Say it. Say I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp," he demanded of him. | "Say it. Say I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp," he demanded of him. |
| "I did, my lady," Pistorius tearfully replied. | "I did, my lady," Pistorius tearfully replied. |
| Earlier in his evidence, Pistorius described the dramatic moments that followed the shooting, after he realised he had shot Ms Steenkamp through a locked toilet door, in what he claims was a case of mistaken identity. | Earlier in his evidence, Pistorius described the dramatic moments that followed the shooting, after he realised he had shot Ms Steenkamp through a locked toilet door, in what he claims was a case of mistaken identity. |
| Pistorius told Pretoria's High Court that he put his hand on her hip, where she had been shot, to stop the bleeding and placed his fingers on her mouth to help her breathe. | Pistorius told Pretoria's High Court that he put his hand on her hip, where she had been shot, to stop the bleeding and placed his fingers on her mouth to help her breathe. |
| The athlete told the court Ms Steenkamp died in his arms. He denied he had ever intended to kill his girlfriend, "or anyone else for that matter", his murder trial heard. | The athlete told the court Ms Steenkamp died in his arms. He denied he had ever intended to kill his girlfriend, "or anyone else for that matter", his murder trial heard. |
| Pistorius said he felt helpless and that he wanted to take her to a hospital, but a neighbor advised him to wait for paramedics to arrive at the Silver Woods estate. | Pistorius said he felt helpless and that he wanted to take her to a hospital, but a neighbor advised him to wait for paramedics to arrive at the Silver Woods estate. |
| "The paramedics arrived. They asked for some space to work so I stood up," he said. "Reeva had already died whilst I was holding her, before the ambulance arrived, so I knew there was nothing they could do for her." | "The paramedics arrived. They asked for some space to work so I stood up," he said. "Reeva had already died whilst I was holding her, before the ambulance arrived, so I knew there was nothing they could do for her." |
| Police arrived at the scene soon after. | Police arrived at the scene soon after. |
| "I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up," Pistorius said. "Every time I saw Reeva, I got sick. So I stayed inside the kitchen. I sat in the pantry against the washing machine." | "I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up," Pistorius said. "Every time I saw Reeva, I got sick. So I stayed inside the kitchen. I sat in the pantry against the washing machine." |
| He was then told to go to the garage, where he was photographed, and later told he was under arrest. Police advised him to keep his head down while exiting the house because there was "a lot of media" waiting for him. | He was then told to go to the garage, where he was photographed, and later told he was under arrest. Police advised him to keep his head down while exiting the house because there was "a lot of media" waiting for him. |
| Yesterday, Pistorius sobbed uncontrollably as he described the moment he realised Ms Steenkamp wasn't in bed and smashed down the toilet door to reach her. By the time Pistorius entered the toilet, Ms Steenkamp "wasn't breathing". | Yesterday, Pistorius sobbed uncontrollably as he described the moment he realised Ms Steenkamp wasn't in bed and smashed down the toilet door to reach her. By the time Pistorius entered the toilet, Ms Steenkamp "wasn't breathing". |
| He told the court he feared an intruder had entered the house after hearing the sound of a "window sliding open" in the early hours of 14 February. Pistorius told the court he asked Ms Steenkamp to call the police immediately. | He told the court he feared an intruder had entered the house after hearing the sound of a "window sliding open" in the early hours of 14 February. Pistorius told the court he asked Ms Steenkamp to call the police immediately. |
| He then heard the sound of a door slamming shut, which he said convinced him an intruder was already inside his bedroom and shot at the toilet door four times using his 9mm pistol. | He then heard the sound of a door slamming shut, which he said convinced him an intruder was already inside his bedroom and shot at the toilet door four times using his 9mm pistol. |
| 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. |