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Oscar Pistorius begged me to take injured Reeva to hospital, neighbour says Oscar Pistorius begged me to take injured Reeva to hospital, neighbour says
(about 5 hours later)
A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius feared he was a suicide risk immediately after he shot dead his girlfriend and ran after him to make sure he did not turn his gun on himself, a court has heard. A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius feared he might take his own life immediately after he shot his girlfriend dead, and ran after him to ensure he did not turn his gun on himself, a court has heardon Monday.
Carice Viljoen, who with her father was first to the scene after the shooting on Valentine's Day last year, said the athlete was in a "frantic" state as he fought to stop Reeva Steenkamp bleeding and prayed to God to save her life. Carice Viljoen, who with her father was first on the scene after the shooting on Valentine's Day last year, said the athlete was in a "frantic" state as he fought to stop Reeva Steenkamp bleeding, and prayed to God to save her life.
The testimony from the fifth defence witness came as the eagerly watched case at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, resumed following a two-week break. Pistorius, 27, slumped forward in the dock with his head in his hands as the story of that night was told once again. The testimony from the fifth defence witness came as the case at the high court in Pretoria resumed following a two-week break. Pistorius, 27, slumped forward in the dock with his head in his hands as the story was told again.
Viljoen, a legal adviser and friend of Pistorius who lived 350-400m from his home, recalled that she had been woken up by the sound of her dogs barking. She then heard a man's voice crying, "Help! Help! Help!" Viljoen, a legal adviser and friend of Pistorius, who lived 350-400 metres from his home, recalled that she had been woken by her dogs barking. She then heard a man's voice crying: "Help! Help! Help!"
She was scared by the sound and unsure what to do next, she said. Finally she joined her father, Johan Stander, in driving to Pistorius's house, where they were confronted by a scene of horror. She was scared and joined her father, Johan Stander, in driving to Pistorius's house, where they were confronted by a scene of horror.
"The first thing I saw was Oscar carrying Reeva down the stairs," she said. "We were facing each other. He was walking rather fast. He was frantic – 'Carice, please, Carice, please, can we get her in the car and take her to the hospital'."The first thing I saw was Oscar carrying Reeva down the stairs," she said. "We were facing each other. He was walking rather fast. He was frantic – 'Carice, please, Carice, please, can we get her in the car and take her to the hospital'.
"He was begging me to put her in the car. I told him to put her down. I told him we just need to see what's going on. I just saw blood everywhere." "He was begging me to put her in the car. I told him to put her down. I told him we just need to see what's going on. I just saw blood everywhere.
She continued: "I said we need to stop the bleeding. I proceeded up the stairs to his linen cupboard and I grabbed a few towels. He was praying to God the whole time; he was begging Reeva to stay with him. He was begging and pleading with Reeva: stay with me, my love, stay with me." "I said we need to stop the bleeding. I proceeded up the stairs to his linen cupboard and I grabbed a few towels. He was praying to God the whole time; he was begging Reeva to stay with him. He was begging and pleading with Reeva: stay with me, my love, stay with me."
She said the athlete tried to stem the blood and keep the 29-year-old's airway open. At one point she asked Pistorius what had happened. "He just looked at me and he said, 'I thought it was an intruder'." She said the athlete tried to stem the blood and keep the 29-year-old's airway open. At one point, she asked Pistorius what had happened. "He just looked at me and he said, 'I thought it was an intruder'."
Viljoen followed Pistorius inside his home when he went to get identity documents because she thought he might kill himself, she added. "I thought he was possibly going to shoot himself so I immediately ran up but I was scared to go any further," she said, wiping away tears.Viljoen followed Pistorius inside his home when he went to get identity documents because she thought he might kill himself, she added. "I thought he was possibly going to shoot himself so I immediately ran up but I was scared to go any further," she said, wiping away tears.
Earlier on Monday the court heard testimony from Stander, who was once on the management committee of the gated community in Pretoria where the athlete lived. He said he had known Pistorius since 2009 and often looked after his home and dogs when he was away competing. Earlier on Monday, the court heard testimony from Stander, who was once on the management committee of the gated community in Pretoria where the athlete lived. He said he had known Pistorius since 2009 and often looked after his home and dogs when he was away competing.
He told the court he received a panicked phone call from the double amputee sprinter at 3.19am ‚ two minutes after the shooting. "He said on the call, '"Oom (Uncle) Johan, please, please, please come to my house. Please. I shot Reeva. I thought she was in an intruder. Please come quick.'" He told the court he received a panicked phone call from the double amputee sprinter at 3.19am ‚ two minutes after the shooting. "He said on the call, '"Oom (Uncle) Johan, please, please, please come to my house. Please. I shot Reeva. I thought she was in an intruder. Please come quick'."
Stander described seeing the athlete was walking down the stairs, carrying Steenkamp's lifeless body in his arms. "I could see she had a head wound. We tried to calm Mr Pistorius down. He was screaming, he was crying, he was praying. He was torn apart, broken, desperate. Stander described seeing the athlete walking down the stairs, carrying Steenkamp's lifeless body in his arms. "I could see she had a head wound. We tried to calm Mr Pistorius down. He was screaming, he was crying, he was praying. He was torn apart, broken, desperate.
"It's not something I would like to experience again. Because that young man walking down the stairs with the lady, with a young woman. His face. The expression of pain, the expression of sorrow. And he's crying.""It's not something I would like to experience again. Because that young man walking down the stairs with the lady, with a young woman. His face. The expression of pain, the expression of sorrow. And he's crying."
Stander became emotional as he described Pistorius's "committed" attempt to save Steenkamp's life as she lay on the floor. The athlete "was asking God to help him," he recalled. "He was torn apart, broken, desperate, pleading. It's difficult really to describe.Stander became emotional as he described Pistorius's "committed" attempt to save Steenkamp's life as she lay on the floor. The athlete "was asking God to help him," he recalled. "He was torn apart, broken, desperate, pleading. It's difficult really to describe.
"He was really crying, he was in pain, and he asked us to please assist him, to put Reeva in a car and take her to hospital."He was really crying, he was in pain, and he asked us to please assist him, to put Reeva in a car and take her to hospital.
"When he put his fingers in her mouth to try to keep the airway open. He was devastated. How he begged God to keep her alive. I saw the truth there that morning. I saw it and I feel it. He was desperate to save her [and] prayed to God.""When he put his fingers in her mouth to try to keep the airway open. He was devastated. How he begged God to keep her alive. I saw the truth there that morning. I saw it and I feel it. He was desperate to save her [and] prayed to God."
Cross-examining Stander, prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked if he was a good friend of Pistorius and trying to "assist" the defence. Stander replied: "I'm here to give the truth. And I think I've given the truth. What I saw that morning."Cross-examining Stander, prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked if he was a good friend of Pistorius and trying to "assist" the defence. Stander replied: "I'm here to give the truth. And I think I've given the truth. What I saw that morning."
Nel also pressed Stander on why he said he assumed that Pistorius had made a mistake when Pistorius had not used the word on the phone call. "He never said I accidentally shot her," Nel said. "He said [he] thought she was an intruder."Nel also pressed Stander on why he said he assumed that Pistorius had made a mistake when Pistorius had not used the word on the phone call. "He never said I accidentally shot her," Nel said. "He said [he] thought she was an intruder."
Stander said it was his "understanding" that Pistorius had shot Steenkamp in error.Stander said it was his "understanding" that Pistorius had shot Steenkamp in error.
The witness also testified about previous break-ins at the estate but was forced to admit under cross-examination that it was "generally a safe place".The witness also testified about previous break-ins at the estate but was forced to admit under cross-examination that it was "generally a safe place".
Sitting in the public gallery as usual, Steenkamp's mother June was visibly upset during testimony about her daughter's body being carried down the stairs.Sitting in the public gallery as usual, Steenkamp's mother June was visibly upset during testimony about her daughter's body being carried down the stairs.
The prosecution alleges Pistorius knowingly killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, by firing four times through a locked toilet door after the couple and argument.The prosecution alleges Pistorius knowingly killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, by firing four times through a locked toilet door after the couple and argument.
Under days of withering cross-examination last month, Pistorius appeared to change his defence. He initially told the court he opened fire because he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. But later he said he panicked and fired the four shots accidentally.Under days of withering cross-examination last month, Pistorius appeared to change his defence. He initially told the court he opened fire because he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. But later he said he panicked and fired the four shots accidentally.
Among the witnesses expected to give evidence this week is a psychologist who will speak to the athlete's physical vulnerability.Among the witnesses expected to give evidence this week is a psychologist who will speak to the athlete's physical vulnerability.
The case continues.The case continues.