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Oscar Pistorius: I did not pick on Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: I did not pick on Reeva Steenkamp
(35 minutes later)
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has denied "picking on" his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, as his cross-examination continues.South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has denied "picking on" his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, as his cross-examination continues.
He was commenting on a mobile phone message Ms Steenkamp had sent him. He was commenting on a mobile phone message Ms Steenkamp sent him.
The prosecution has been trying to portray Mr Pistorius as self-obsessed and negligent with firearms.The prosecution has been trying to portray Mr Pistorius as self-obsessed and negligent with firearms.
Mr Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp, saying he accidentally shot her dead through a door, fearing there was a burglar in his house.Mr Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp, saying he accidentally shot her dead through a door, fearing there was a burglar in his house.
Prosecutors say the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter intentionally killed his girlfriend on 14 February last year by firing a gun through a bathroom door at her after a row at his Pretoria home.Prosecutors say the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter intentionally killed his girlfriend on 14 February last year by firing a gun through a bathroom door at her after a row at his Pretoria home.
Mr Pistorius, 27, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate.Mr Pistorius, 27, 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 proceedings: In Thursday's proceedings
Under intense cross-examination, Mr Pistorius said he had not meant to pull the trigger, even to fire at an intruder.Under intense cross-examination, Mr Pistorius said he had not meant to pull the trigger, even to fire at an intruder.
"It was an accident... I didn't have time to think," he said, his voice trembling after he had been generally calm in contrast to previous days."It was an accident... I didn't have time to think," he said, his voice trembling after he had been generally calm in contrast to previous days.
Earlier, chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as the "bull terrier" in South Africa for his fierce questioning, suggested that Mr Pistorius was only concerned about himself during the couple's three-month relationship. Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as the "bull terrier" in South Africa for his fierce questioning, had suggested Mr Pistorius was only concerned about himself during the couple's three-month relationship.
"It was all about you Mr Pistorius," he said, repeatedly. "It was all about you, Mr Pistorius," he said, repeatedly.
The BBC's Karin Giannone at court in Pretoria says Mr Nel is trying to give an impression that the Paralympic athlete is self-centred, contemptuous of his girlfriend and lacking responsibility. He tried to give the impression that the Paralympic athlete was self-centred, contemptuous of his girlfriend and lacking responsibility, the BBC's Karin Giannone reports from Pretoria.
Mr Nel suggested that Mr Pistorius should have apologised to Ms Steenkamp's family in private, rather than making a "spectacle" by doing it in court as he opened his defence on Monday. Mr Nel suggested that Mr Pistorius should have apologised to Ms Steenkamp's family in private, rather than making a "spectacle" by doing it in court.
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. "I'm terribly sorry that I took the life of their daughter," he said.
When Mr Nel noted that in Monday's apology, Mr Pistorius did not say he was sorry for killing Ms Steenkamp, the athlete replied: "I'm terribly sorry that I took the life of their daughter".
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."
In court, Mrs Steenkamp shook her head as Mr Pistorius was taken through several Whatsapp messages, which Ms Steenkamp had sent.In court, Mrs Steenkamp shook her head as Mr Pistorius was taken through several Whatsapp messages, which Ms Steenkamp had sent.
In one, she wrote: "You have picked on me incessantly since we got back from Cape Town."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."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."
He also denied ever shouting or screaming at Ms Steenkamp, or a previous girlfriend, Sam Taylor, as she had testified earlier in the trial.He also denied ever shouting or screaming at Ms Steenkamp, or a previous girlfriend, Sam Taylor, as she had testified earlier in the trial.
Referring to an incident when a gun was fired in a restaurant, he said he had not been aware the gun was loaded but insisted he had not pulled the trigger.Referring to an incident when a gun was fired in a restaurant, he said he had not been aware the gun was loaded but insisted he had not pulled the trigger.
Mr Nell said a gun firing itself would be a "miracle". He also accused Mr Pistorius of lying and not taking responsibility for his actions.Mr Nell said a gun firing itself would be a "miracle". He also accused Mr Pistorius of lying and not taking responsibility for his actions.
"You will blame anybody but yourself," the prosecutor said, after Mr Pistorius had questioned the decisions of his defence lawyers. Mr Pistorius did admit keeping ammunition in his bedside table, rather than in a safe, saying he was usually armed for his own safety.
Mr Pistorius did admit keeping ammunition in his bedside table, rather than in a safe.
He said he was usually armed "for my own safety".
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.
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.