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Oscar Pistorius prosecutors 'twisted facts', defence says Oscar Pistorius prosecutors 'twisted facts', defence says
(about 1 hour later)
Prosecutors have twisted the facts to discredit South African athlete Oscar Pistorius in his murder trial, his lawyer has said in closing remarks.Prosecutors have twisted the facts to discredit South African athlete Oscar Pistorius in his murder trial, his lawyer has said in closing remarks.
Barry Roux said the double amputee should have faced a charge of culpable homicide, not murder, over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.Barry Roux said the double amputee should have faced a charge of culpable homicide, not murder, over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
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. But Mr Roux conceded that he should be found guilty for negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant.
The Olympic athlete pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
In the early hours of Valentine's Day last year, he says he mistook his girlfriend - a model and law graduate - for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria.
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.
'Slow burn'
In court on Friday, Mr Roux said growing up with a disability conditioned Mr Pistorius always to confront danger because he could not flee.
He described it as a "slow burn" of insecurities and compared it to an abused woman shooting her abuser.
The defence also argues that there was "no respect for the crime scene", saying the state's case was discredited as Mr Pistorius' house was tampered with inadvertently, with a fan and duvet being moved.
Mr Roux is also dealing with phone data evidence on the night of the shooting to show that the timeline of events fits the defence's argument that Mr Pistorius fired the shots at the toilet door first on his stumps.
Realising he had shot Ms Steenkamp by mistake, the defence says Mr Pistorius put on his prosthetics and used a cricket bat to knock down the door at 03.17 local time - five minutes after he says shots were fired.
The prosecution alleges that the noises heard at 03.17 were the shots being fired.
Analysis: Andrew Harding, BBC News, PretoriaAnalysis: 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 state has produced plenty of damaging claims about Oscar Pistorius's version of events and about his character - not least his refusal to accept blame for the other two gunshot incidents.
But it has consistently avoided weaving them into a minute-by-minute timeline. Instead, Thursday seemed mostly to be a rehash of things Mr Nel has been saying for some time in court.
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 optionsOscar Pistorius trial: Nel covers all options
'Slow burn' State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement on Thursday, argued the athlete "cannot escape" a murder conviction.
In court on Friday, Mr Roux said growing up with a disability conditioned Mr Pistorius always to confront danger because he could not flee. He accused Mr Pistorius of being a "deceitful witness" who told the court a "snowball of lies".
He described it as a "slow burn" of insecurities and compared it to an abused woman shooting her abuser.
The defence also argues that there was "no respect for the crime scene", saying the state's case was discredited as Mr Pistorius' house was tampered with inadvertently as the fan and the duvet were moved.
Addressing other charges, Mr Roux conceded that Mr Pistorius was guilty of negligence for discharging the firearm in a restaurant.
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 "bull terrier", prosecutor Mr Nel said the athlete's lawyers had presented two lines of defence that "can never be reconciled".Known as the "bull terrier", 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.
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 have appeared in court for the closing arguments.