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Oscar Pistorius trial: Defence set for closing argument | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Lawyers defending South African athlete Oscar Pistorius are to present closing arguments in the murder trial of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | |
Defence lawyer Barry Roux began his concluding remarks on Thursday, when he repeated claims that police had tampered with evidence. | Defence lawyer Barry Roux began his concluding remarks on Thursday, when he repeated claims that police had tampered with evidence. |
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement, argued the athlete "cannot escape" a murder conviction. | State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement, argued the athlete "cannot escape" a murder conviction. |
Mr Pistorius denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp. | Mr Pistorius denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp. |
He says he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February last year. | He says he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, on 14 February last year. |
Once concluding arguments are finished, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial to consider her ruling. Analysts say this process could take between a week and a month. | Once concluding arguments are finished, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial to consider her ruling. Analysts say this process could take between a week and a month. |
Analysis: Andrew Harding, BBC News, Pretoria | Analysis: Andrew Harding, BBC News, Pretoria |
The real focus of these final arguments will be Friday's speech by defence lawyer Barry Roux. He's been eclipsed for some time by Mr Nel's show-stealing performance, but we were given a glimpse on Thursday of the sort of detailed timeline Mr Roux has been preparing. | The real focus of these final arguments will be Friday's speech by defence lawyer Barry Roux. He's been eclipsed for some time by Mr Nel's show-stealing performance, but we were given a glimpse on Thursday of the sort of detailed timeline Mr Roux has been preparing. |
I suspect Judge Masipa will find Mr Roux's timeline quite persuasive. But that won't affect the core question of this trial - the question that could yet see Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder even on his own version of events. | I suspect Judge Masipa will find Mr Roux's timeline quite persuasive. But that won't affect the core question of this trial - the question that could yet see Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder even on his own version of events. |
How could you fire four shots into a small cubicle and not intend to kill someone? | How could you fire four shots into a small cubicle and not intend to kill someone? |
Oscar Pistorius trial: Nel covers all options | Oscar Pistorius trial: Nel covers all options |
Conflicting images | Conflicting images |
The defence team has sought to present the athlete as a vulnerable individual, while the prosecution are trying to build a picture of a man who knew the consequences of his actions. | The defence team has sought to present the athlete as a vulnerable individual, while the prosecution are trying to build a picture of a man who knew the consequences of his actions. |
On Thursday, the main prosecution lawyer accused Mr Pistorius of being a "deceitful witness" who told the court a "snowball of lies". | On Thursday, the main prosecution lawyer accused Mr Pistorius of being a "deceitful witness" who told the court a "snowball of lies". |
Known as the "Pitbull" prosecutor, Mr Nel said the athlete's lawyers had presented two lines of defence that "can never be reconciled". | Known as the "Pitbull" prosecutor, Mr Nel said the athlete's lawyers had presented 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 also attacked Mr Pistorius for presenting himself as "a victim of circumstance," suggesting that he had manufactured a fear of crime to help his defence. | He also attacked Mr Pistorius for presenting himself as "a victim of circumstance," suggesting that he had manufactured a fear of crime to help his defence. |
Responding to Mr Nel's concluding remark, defence lawyer Barry Roux accused the state prosecution of ignoring evidence and avoiding calling up witnesses who may have damaged their case. | Responding to Mr Nel's concluding remark, defence lawyer Barry Roux accused the state prosecution of ignoring evidence and avoiding calling up witnesses who may have damaged their case. |
He has promised to present a detailed timeline on Friday to back up the case with "objective evidence". | He has promised to present a detailed timeline on Friday to back up the case with "objective evidence". |
Mr Roux argued that Mr Pistorius has a "heightened fight response" because of his disability and that his insecurities led him to confront danger. | Mr Roux argued that Mr Pistorius has a "heightened fight response" because of his disability and that his insecurities led him to confront danger. |
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. | 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. |
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. |
For the first time since the trial began in March, the fathers of Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp appeared in court on Thursday. | For the first time since the trial began in March, the fathers of Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp appeared in court on Thursday. |