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Pistorius told 'snowball of lies,' says prosecution | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been accused of being a "deceitful witness" who told the court a "snowball of lies", at the start of closing arguments in his trial for murder. | |
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. |
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his concluding remarks on Thursday, with the defence due to follow on Friday. | |
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. |
His 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". | 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. | 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. |
He said the court "should have no difficulty in rejecting" the athlete's version of events because it was "devoid of any truth". | He said the court "should have no difficulty in rejecting" the athlete's version of events because it was "devoid of any truth". |
Mr Pistorius told so many lies in such a short space of time, Mr Nel said, that they had a "snowball effect" and forced him to tell more. | |
He also attacked Mr Pistorius for presenting himself as "a victim of circumstance." | He also attacked Mr Pistorius for presenting himself as "a victim of circumstance." |
Mr Pistorius' estranged father, Henke, was in the packed courtroom for the first time during the trial. It was also the first time that Barry Steenkamp, Reeva's father, had attended. | Mr Pistorius' estranged father, Henke, was in the packed courtroom for the first time during the trial. It was also the first time that Barry Steenkamp, Reeva's father, had attended. |
Showdown | Showdown |
The BBC's Karen Allen in Pretoria says Mr Nel is seeking to build a picture of a man who knew the consequences of his actions. | |
The defence team has sought to portray Mr Pistorius as vulnerable due to his disability and anxious because of his difficult childhood in a country with a high crime rate. | |
But Mr Nel said the athlete had anxiety "on call", suggesting that he had manufactured a fear of crime to help his defence. | |
Last month, a psychiatric report said Mr Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions. | |
Judge Thokozile Masipa, a subdued presence in the trial so far, had been expected to intervene more in the closing statements and perhaps provide hints about a future verdict | |
But the BBC's Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, says she rarely interjected in Thursday morning's proceedings. | |
Oscar Pistorius' lawyer, Barry Roux, will give his closing remarks after Mr Nel, in what correspondents say is the final showdown between two of South Africa'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. |
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. |