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| Oscar Pistorius branded 'deceitful' as trial nears end | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been accused of being a "deceitful witness" who dropped the "baton of truth", at the start of closing arguments in his trial for murder. | |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his concluding remarks on Thursday, with defence the due to follow on Friday. | |
| Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. | Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. |
| He says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her after a row. | He says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her after a row. |
| Ms Steenkamp was killed at Mr Pistorius' home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February last year. | Ms Steenkamp was killed at Mr Pistorius' home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February last year. |
| The long-running trial was adjourned last month ahead of closing arguments. | |
| At the court in Pretoria, Mr Nel began his closing argument by accusing the athlete's lawyers of presenting two lines of defence that "can never be reconciled". | |
| Mr Pistorius said he had fired both involuntarily and also out of fear, Mr Nel argued, insisting the court had to choose only one of his defences. | |
| Showdown | Showdown |
| The BBC's Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, says Mr Nel will explain in detail during his remarks why he believes he has proved that Mr Pistorius deliberately murdered his girlfriend. | |
| The evidence of neighbours and forensic experts will be important - but the athlete's own testimony is crucial, our correspondent says. | |
| The prosecution is convinced he gave conflicting accounts of how and why the double amputee shot Ms Steenkamp four times through his toilet door. | The prosecution is convinced he gave conflicting accounts of how and why the double amputee shot Ms Steenkamp four times through his toilet door. |
| Judge Thokozile Masipa - a subdued presence so far - is now likely to intervene more and her questions could well provide hints about a future verdict. | Judge Thokozile Masipa - a subdued presence so far - is now likely to intervene more and her questions could well provide hints about a future verdict. |
| Oscar Pistorius's lawyer, Barry Roux, is expected to follow with his closing arguments on Friday. | Oscar Pistorius's lawyer, Barry Roux, is expected to follow with his closing arguments on Friday. |
| Correspondents say the proceedings will be a final showdown between two of the country's top legal minds. | Correspondents say the proceedings will be a final showdown between two of the country's top legal minds. |
| Judge Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial after hearing the arguments to consider her ruling, a process that analysts say will take in between a week to a month. | Judge Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial after hearing the arguments to consider her ruling, a process that analysts say will take in between a week to a month. |
| There is no jury. | There is no jury. |
| The defence will present a detailed timeline of events - and will seek to show that a disabled, panicking man convinced an intruder had broken into his home - made a terrible mistake. | The defence will present a detailed timeline of events - and will seek to show that a disabled, panicking man convinced an intruder had broken into his home - made a terrible mistake. |
| If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, 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. |