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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Reeva Steenkamp standing with 'hand on the door handle' when she was shot dead | Oscar Pistorius trial: Reeva Steenkamp standing with 'hand on the door handle' when she was shot dead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Reeva Steenkamp was standing with her hand "on the door handle" before Oscar Pistorius shot her dead through a locked toilet door, his murder trial heard. | Reeva Steenkamp was standing with her hand "on the door handle" before Oscar Pistorius shot her dead through a locked toilet door, his murder trial heard. |
| Continuing his evidence, forensic expert Roger Dixon told the court Ms Steenkamp was "standing arm forward towards the door handle" when he opened fire, suggesting she may have been in the process of opening the toilet door. | Continuing his evidence, forensic expert Roger Dixon told the court Ms Steenkamp was "standing arm forward towards the door handle" when he opened fire, suggesting she may have been in the process of opening the toilet door. |
| The athlete's defence team, led by Barry Roux, sought to cast doubt over the prosecution's claim that Ms Steenkamp "ran screaming" to the bathroom and locked herself inside the toilet hiding from Pistorius following a domestic dispute. | The athlete's defence team, led by Barry Roux, sought to cast doubt over the prosecution's claim that Ms Steenkamp "ran screaming" to the bathroom and locked herself inside the toilet hiding from Pistorius following a domestic dispute. |
| Returning to the witness box, Mr Dixon, a former policeman, challenged the state's version that Ms Steenkamp was facing the door when the first of three bullets struck her in the hip. Pistorius then heard her fall back and changed aim hitting her in arm and head. | |
| Today, Mr Dixon told Pretoria's High Court she was standing close to the door when the first two shots struck her in the hip and arm in quick succession, leaving her incapacitated to move. His testimony backs the athlete's claim that he fired four shots in rapid succession. | Today, Mr Dixon told Pretoria's High Court she was standing close to the door when the first two shots struck her in the hip and arm in quick succession, leaving her incapacitated to move. His testimony backs the athlete's claim that he fired four shots in rapid succession. |
| Pistorius, back in the dock after five days of cross-examination, kept his hands in his head as Mr Dixon described the impact of the Black Talon bullets that pierced his girlfriend's body. | Pistorius, back in the dock after five days of cross-examination, kept his hands in his head as Mr Dixon described the impact of the Black Talon bullets that pierced his girlfriend's body. |
| Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Mr Dixon's qualifications and raised doubts about his analysis of the crime scene and the circumstances surrounding Ms Steenkamp's death. | Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned Mr Dixon's qualifications and raised doubts about his analysis of the crime scene and the circumstances surrounding Ms Steenkamp's death. |
| Mr Dixon, currently employed at the University of Pretoria's geology department, conceded he is not a ballistic expert and is not affiliated to a forensic body. | Mr Dixon, currently employed at the University of Pretoria's geology department, conceded he is not a ballistic expert and is not affiliated to a forensic body. |
| Yesterday, Mr Dixon said he conducted light tests in Pistorius's bedroom on a "moonless night" that proved it was almost completely dark, supporting the athlete's claim that he could not have seen Ms Steenkamp getting out of bed, and described some aspects of the police investigation as "unprofessional". | Yesterday, Mr Dixon said he conducted light tests in Pistorius's bedroom on a "moonless night" that proved it was almost completely dark, supporting the athlete's claim that he could not have seen Ms Steenkamp getting out of bed, and described some aspects of the police investigation as "unprofessional". |
| He told the court he tested for light again with athlete's music system and one of its small blue LED lights on, which Pistorius claimed was bothering him the night he shot his girlfriend."With your back to the light I couldn't see into the darker areas of the room," he said. | |
| Asked about his methods, Mr Dixon said the "only instrument" he used to conduct the visibility test were his eyes. | Asked about his methods, Mr Dixon said the "only instrument" he used to conduct the visibility test were his eyes. |
| Earlier, Judge Masipa ruled that proceedings will adjourn for two weeks on Thursday, and resume 5 May following a request from the prosecution citing prior commitments and Easter holidays. Mr Roux is expected to call between 14 to 17 witnesses. | |
| Pistorius is accused of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp following a domestic dispute in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. He claims he shot and killed his girlfriend in a case of mistaken identity, thinking she was an intruder. | Pistorius is accused of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp following a domestic dispute in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. He claims he shot and killed his girlfriend in a case of mistaken identity, thinking she was an intruder. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |