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Oscar Pistorius defence finishes Oscar Pistorius trial: Some witnesses 'refused to testify'
(35 minutes later)
Oscar Pistorius' defence lawyers have finished presenting their case and his murder trial has been adjourned until 7 August for closing arguments. Some witnesses refused to testify at the televised trial of Oscar Pistorius because of the publicity, the South African athlete's lawyer has said.
Lawyer Barry Roux said a number of witnesses refused to testify as they did not want "their voices heard around the world". They did not want "their voices all over the world", Barry Roux told the court as his team ended its case.
The trial is the first in South Africa to be broadcast live on TV and has aroused intense global attention. The court has now adjourned until 7 August for closing arguments.
The Olympic sprinter, 27, denies intentionally killing his girlfriend. The Olympic runner denies intentionally killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
He says he shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, by mistake, fearing there was an intruder in his house in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 2013. The prosecution accuses the double amputee of deliberately shooting dead Reeva Steenkamp after the pair had an argument.
The prosecution accuses the double amputee of deliberately killing her after the pair had an argument. The trial, which began on 3 March, is the first in South Africa to be broadcast live on TV and has aroused intense global attention.
Mr Roux said the defence, which began its presentation on 28 March, had no more witnesses to call.
He said he had chosen not to ask Judge Thokozile Masipa to make them appear, the Associated Press news agency reports.
"There's nothing that we can do about it,'' he said.
He did not name the witnesses who had refused to testify.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment.
If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison.If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison.