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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
(about 3 hours 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 the arm and head. 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.
Today, Mr Dixon told Pretoria's High Court she was standing close to the door at an angle when the first two shots struck her in the hip and arm in quick succession "like an instant amputation". His testimony appears to back 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 at an angle when four shots struck her in quick succession as she was "falling and turning".
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. His testimony appears to back the athlete's claim that he fired four shots in rapid succession, and contradicts the state's claim that there was a short break between the first and second shot, where Pistorius deliberately changed aim.
On Tuesday, the court also heard sound recordings of a cricket bat striking a door and of gunshots fired through a door. The defence sought to prove the sounds are similar and could be confused. The athlete, 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.
The sequence is crucial because several neighbours claimed they heard a woman screaming followed by loud noises at the start of the trial, which appears to back the prosecution's case that there was an argument before Pistorius opened fire at the door knowing Ms Steenkamp was inside. On Tuesday, the geologist told the court he carried out night-time visibility tests in Pistorius's house. He claimed his findings proved that his bedroom would have been almost pitch black on a "moonless" night like the night he killed and shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
His defence claims neighbours confused the sound of the cricket bat striking the door for gunshots and mistook the athlete's high-pitched voice calling for help for a woman screaming However, when asked about his methods, Mr Dixon told the court "the only instrument" he used to carry out the test were his eyes.
In cross-examination, Mr Dixon told the court the tests had to be done a second time because the firearm that was used kept jamming, and they were recorded by a music producer who had no experience in recording gunshots.  He also admitted they used different ammunition. The court also heard sound recordings of a cricket bat striking a door and gunshots fired through a door as the defence sought to prove the sounds are similar and could be confused.
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. "Your expertise [in the test] was wielding the cricket bat?" Nel asked Mr Dixon, to which the geologist replied: "My part of that test was to wield the cricket bat to produce the sound."
Mr Dixon, a qualified geologist currently employed at the University of Pretoria, conceded he is not a ballistic expert and is not affiliated to a forensic body. The sequence is crucial because several neighbours claimed they heard a woman screaming followed by loud noises at the start of the trial, which appears to back the prosecution's case that there was an argument before Pistorius fired at the door knowing Ms Steenkamp was inside.
Yesterday, Mr Dixon said he conducted light tests in Pistorius's bedroom 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". His defence claims neighbours confused the sound of the cricket bat striking the door for gunshots and mistook the athlete's high-pitched voice calling for help for a woman screaming.
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. "Are you a sound expert, sir?" asked Mr Nel. "Have you received training in decibels and sound?"
Asked about his methods, Mr Dixon said the "only instrument" he used to conduct the visibility test were his eyes. Again, Mr Dixon conceded he had not received specific training in sound.
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. He also admitted the gunshot test had to be repeated because the firearm kept jamming, and noted they did not use the same ammunition as Pistorius because Black Talon bullets weren't available at the shooting range where the test was performed.
Asked about the qualifications of the music producer who recorded the test, Mr Dixon told the court he "had no idea" if he had experience in recording explosions. He also admitted he wasn't present when the second test was carried out.
In a series of tense exchanges, Mr Nel questioned his integrity and accused him of being "irresponsible" for giving evidence about the model's wounds without reading Ms Steenkamp's post-mortem in detail.
"You see how irresponsible it is to make inferences in areas where you’re not an expert. It’s irresponsible, am I right?," Nel told the court, addressing the witness.
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.