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Pistorius murder trial resumes Oscar Pistorius 'broken' after shooting Reeva Steenkamp
(35 minutes later)
The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has resumed after a two-week break, with his defence team continuing its case. South African athlete Oscar Pistorius "was broken" after shooting his girlfriend, his neighbour has said, as the murder trial resumed after a two-week break.
More expert witnesses will be called as the athlete's lawyer seeks to challenge the state's claim that Mr Pistorius deliberately killed his girlfriend. Johan Stander was the first person the athlete called after shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.
Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. The South African Olympic sprinter denies intentionally killing her.
He says he shot through a toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder. He says he shot through a toilet door while in a state of panic, fearing there was an intruder in his house.
The trial was adjourned on 17 April for an Easter break after Mr Pistorius and two expert witnesses had given evidence for the defence.The trial was adjourned on 17 April for an Easter break after Mr Pistorius and two expert witnesses had given evidence for the defence.
The athlete faced several days of cross-examination from the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts "as an escape". The BBC's Pumza Fihlani at court in the capital, Pretoria, says the athlete is wearing a black suit, black tie and crisp white shirt, black glasses and has had his hair cut.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Pretoria says the athlete's defence team is likely to call on his neighbours and a ballistics expert next. The athlete has a pen in hand and is listening intently to his neighbour, she says.
A psychologist is also expected to be called to speak about Mr Pistorius' disability and his acute sense of vulnerability, our correspondent adds. Mr Stander, who lives about 350 metres from Mr Pistorius said he received a call at 03.18 on 14 February 2013.
He said the athlete told him: "I shot Reeva. I thought she was an intruder, please come quick."
Mr Stander said that when he and his family arrived, they saw Mr Pistorius coming downstairs with Ms Steenkamp in his arms.
"I could see she had a head-wound," Mr Stander said.
"He was broken. He was screaming, he was crying, he was praying," he said.
"He asked us to assist him to take her to hospital."
Before the Easter break, the athlete faced several days of cross-examination from the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts "as an escape".
As well as neighbours, the athlete's defence team is expected to call on a ballistics expert.
A psychologist is also set to be called to speak about Mr Pistorius' disability and his acute sense of vulnerability.
The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behaviour by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door.The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behaviour by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old - a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment.If found guilty, the 27-year-old - a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment.
If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.
He also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.He 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.