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Pistorius murder trial: Second day of cross-examination Oscar Pistorius: I did not pick on Reeva Steenkamp
(35 minutes later)
Oscar Pistorius is being cross-examined for a second day at his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has denied "picking on" his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, as his cross-examination continues.
During a dramatic first day of questioning by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, the South African athlete became distraught as he was shown a graphic photo of Ms Steenkamp after her death. He was commenting on a mobile phone message Ms Steenkamp had sent him.
Mr Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp. The Paralympian also denied ever shouting at her and regretted never telling Ms Steenkamp he loved her.
He says he accidentally killed her after mistaking her for an intruder. Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend, saying he accidentally killed her after mistaking her for an intruder.
Prosecutors say Mr Pistorius intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year by firing a gun through a bathroom door at her after a row at his Pretoria home.Prosecutors say Mr Pistorius intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year by firing a gun through a bathroom door at her after a row at his Pretoria home.
The 27-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate.The 27-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate.
In Thursday's opening exchanges, Mr Nel suggested that Mr Pistorius should have apologised to Ms Steenkamp's family in private, rather than in court as he opened his defence on Monday. As the cross-examination resumed, chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested that Mr Pistorius should have apologised to Ms Steenkamp's family in private, rather than in court as he opened his defence on Monday.
The athlete replied that he had not had the opportunity and had been unable to find the correct words.The athlete replied that he had not had the opportunity and had been unable to find the correct words.
When pressed, he said he apologised for killing Ms Steenkamp. When pressed, he said he apologised for "taking the life of" Ms Steenkamp.
In an interview with the UK's Daily Mirror newspaper, her mother, June, said the apology "left me unmoved. I knew it was coming".In an interview with the UK's Daily Mirror newspaper, her mother, June, said the apology "left me unmoved. I knew it was coming".
She said: "He has been very dramatic, the vomiting and crying... I don't know whether he's acting."She said: "He has been very dramatic, the vomiting and crying... I don't know whether he's acting."
On Wednesday, Mr Nel showed video footage of the athlete at a gun range shooting a watermelon. In court, Mrs Steenkamp shook her head as Mr Pistorius was taken through several Whatsapp messages, which Ms Steenkamp had sent.
The chief prosecutor then said the watermelon had exploded in the same way as Ms Steenkamp's head - and showed the graphic photo. He asked Mr Pistorius to look at it and take responsibility for his actions. In one, she wrote: "You have picked on me incessantly since we got back from Cape Town."
Asked to comment, Mr Pistorius said: "I don't feel like I picked on her incessantly - maybe we were having a rough time in our relationship."
Mr Nel, known as the "bull terrier" in South Africa for his fierce questioning, also suggested that Mr Pistorius was concerned about himself during their relationship.
"It was all about you Mr Pistorius," he said, repeatedly.
As well as denying ever shouting or screaming at Ms Steenkamp, the athlete said he had never shouted at a previous girlfriend, Sam Taylor, as she had testified earlier in the trial.
On Wednesday's dramatic first day of questioning by Mr Nel, the South African athlete became distraught as he was shown a graphic photo of Ms Steenkamp after her death.
An emotional Mr Pistorius turned away from the image on a monitor screen and said: "I've taken responsibility… but I will not look at a picture where I am tormented by what I saw and felt that night... I remember. I don't have to look at a picture, I was there.''An emotional Mr Pistorius turned away from the image on a monitor screen and said: "I've taken responsibility… but I will not look at a picture where I am tormented by what I saw and felt that night... I remember. I don't have to look at a picture, I was there.''
After an adjournment to allow Mr Pistorius to compose himself, Mr Nel sought to highlight what he said were inconsistencies in the athlete's statements, questioning his claims that police had tampered with items in his home after the shooting. Earlier on Wednesday, while being questioned by his lawyer Barry Roux, Mr Pistorius told the court he had tried to revive Ms Steenkamp, who was hit by three of four pistol rounds he fired through the door.
"I am not pleading not guilty because the scene was contaminated," Mr Pistorius countered. "I am pleading not guilty because what I'm accused of didn't happen."
The BBC's Andrew Harding, who was in court in Pretoria, says in the opening moments of cross-examination, Mr Nel showed the highly combative style Mr Pistorius can now expect from him in the coming days.
Earlier, while being questioned by his lawyer Barry Roux, Mr Pistorius told the court he had tried to revive Ms Steenkamp, who was hit by three of four pistol rounds he fired through the door.
"I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn't," he said. "I could feel the blood was running down on me.""I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn't," he said. "I could feel the blood was running down on me."
He said he had managed to carry Ms Steenkamp downstairs, where neighbours had tried to administer first aid before paramedics arrived.He said he had managed to carry Ms Steenkamp downstairs, where neighbours had tried to administer first aid before paramedics arrived.
"The paramedics arrived. They asked for some space to work so I stood up," Mr Pistorius 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," Mr Pistorius 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."
Before Mr Roux ended his questioning, he asked Mr Pistorius if he had intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp.Before Mr Roux ended his questioning, he asked Mr Pistorius if he had intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp.
"I did not intend to kill Reeva or anybody else for that matter," he replied."I did not intend to kill Reeva or anybody else for that matter," he replied.
If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, South African law stipulates that the court must consider the separate, lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he could receive between six and 15 years in prison.If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, South African law stipulates that the court must consider the separate, lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he could receive between six and 15 years in prison.
Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.
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.