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| Defense in Murder Trial of Oscar Pistorius Challenges Police Investigation | Defense in Murder Trial of Oscar Pistorius Challenges Police Investigation |
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| PRETORIA, South Africa — As the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius neared the close of formal submissions on Friday, defense lawyers sought to cast doubt on the police investigation of the Valentine’s Day shooting last year when the double-amputee athlete killed his girlfriend in what he has called a tragic mistake. | PRETORIA, South Africa — As the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius neared the close of formal submissions on Friday, defense lawyers sought to cast doubt on the police investigation of the Valentine’s Day shooting last year when the double-amputee athlete killed his girlfriend in what he has called a tragic mistake. |
| The case was drawing to a close on the 41st day of a trial that has drawn a global audience through video and audio broadcasts, reinforced by avalanches of messages on social media sites. Final arguments by prosecution and defense lawyers are the last step before the case is handed over to Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa. | |
| It is not yet clear when exactly the judge will pronounce her verdict. In the absence of jury trials in the South African legal system, she will make her ruling helped by two assessors. The trial opened in early March and has frequently been delayed. It was initially set to last three weeks. | It is not yet clear when exactly the judge will pronounce her verdict. In the absence of jury trials in the South African legal system, she will make her ruling helped by two assessors. The trial opened in early March and has frequently been delayed. It was initially set to last three weeks. |
| On Thursday, the lead prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, derided Mr. Pistorius as mendacious and an unreliable witness. The prosecution says the athlete, disabled since the amputation of both legs below the knee at the age of 11 months, committed premeditated murder when he fired four rounds from a handgun into a locked toilet where, he has said, he suspected there was at least one intruder. | |
| The shots killed Reeva Steenkamp, his 29-year-old girlfriend, a law graduate who was making a career as a model and reality television star. | The shots killed Reeva Steenkamp, his 29-year-old girlfriend, a law graduate who was making a career as a model and reality television star. |
| Mr. Nel argued that whoever was in the cubicle, Mr. Pistorius set out to kill him or her and should be convicted of murder, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years before parole may be sought. | Mr. Nel argued that whoever was in the cubicle, Mr. Pistorius set out to kill him or her and should be convicted of murder, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years before parole may be sought. |
| After the prosecution argument took up all but 30 minutes of the hearing on Thursday, Mr. Pistorius’s main lawyer, Barry Roux, began his final argument on Friday morning by challenging the forensic skills of police officers investigating the shooting, accusing them of moving items in Mr. Pistorius’s bedroom, including a fan. | After the prosecution argument took up all but 30 minutes of the hearing on Thursday, Mr. Pistorius’s main lawyer, Barry Roux, began his final argument on Friday morning by challenging the forensic skills of police officers investigating the shooting, accusing them of moving items in Mr. Pistorius’s bedroom, including a fan. |
| Prosecutors have accused Mr. Pistorius of lying about his actions in his bedroom immediately before the shooting, including the use of the fan. They have said that an extension cord in the bedroom was too short to reach it. | Prosecutors have accused Mr. Pistorius of lying about his actions in his bedroom immediately before the shooting, including the use of the fan. They have said that an extension cord in the bedroom was too short to reach it. |
| The defense lawyer then attempted to counter the prosecution’s portrayal of Mr. Pistorius and Ms. Steenkamp’s relationship as deeply unhappy and troubled. | The defense lawyer then attempted to counter the prosecution’s portrayal of Mr. Pistorius and Ms. Steenkamp’s relationship as deeply unhappy and troubled. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Nel argued that cellphone messages between the two on the application WhatsApp showed that Ms. Steenkamp was unhappy and fearful of her boyfriend just weeks before the shooting in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013, at Mr. Pistorius’s home in a gated complex here in Pretoria, the South African capital. | On Thursday, Mr. Nel argued that cellphone messages between the two on the application WhatsApp showed that Ms. Steenkamp was unhappy and fearful of her boyfriend just weeks before the shooting in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013, at Mr. Pistorius’s home in a gated complex here in Pretoria, the South African capital. |
| But Mr. Roux offered a different analysis. “Go and look at every single WhatsApp message,” he said. “Look at how quickly they made up,” he said, referring to the couple’s recovery from differences. | But Mr. Roux offered a different analysis. “Go and look at every single WhatsApp message,” he said. “Look at how quickly they made up,” he said, referring to the couple’s recovery from differences. |
| In the courtroom, Mr. Pistorius, who mostly kept his head down during the prosecution’s final argument on Thursday, looked directly at his lawyer on Friday morning. | In the courtroom, Mr. Pistorius, who mostly kept his head down during the prosecution’s final argument on Thursday, looked directly at his lawyer on Friday morning. |
| Mr. Roux also sought to undermine the prosecution’s assertion that the couple had argued shortly before the shooting. Mr. Roux said that when a security guard passed the house at 2 a.m., it had seemed normal and that if there had been an argument, the guard would have heard. Mr. Roux set out a detailed timeline of what he says was the sequence of events, beginning with the first shots fired at 3.12 a.m., cries of “help” from Mr. Pistorius at 3.15 a.m., and the sound of him breaking down the toilet door with a cricket bat at 3.17 a.m.. | Mr. Roux also sought to undermine the prosecution’s assertion that the couple had argued shortly before the shooting. Mr. Roux said that when a security guard passed the house at 2 a.m., it had seemed normal and that if there had been an argument, the guard would have heard. Mr. Roux set out a detailed timeline of what he says was the sequence of events, beginning with the first shots fired at 3.12 a.m., cries of “help” from Mr. Pistorius at 3.15 a.m., and the sound of him breaking down the toilet door with a cricket bat at 3.17 a.m.. |