Athlete reads valentine from victim
Double-amputee sprinter keeps composure during final day on witness stand
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA— In his final day on the witness stand, Oscar Pistorius stuck to his story that he shot Reeva Steenkamp in a tragic accident, concluding a turbulent chapter in court for the athletic star.
Cross-examining Pistorius for the last time, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel summed up his case Tuesday, saying Reeva Steenkamp was awake eating and arguing with the sprinter two hours before he shot her dead at 3:17 a.m.
The neighbours heard “Reeva’s blood-curdling screams, they heard that when she escaped from you,” said Nel. “She was locked in the bathroom and you armed yourself with the sole purpose of shooting and killing her.”
But Pistorius, who has broken into tears and become physically sick throughout the trial, maintained his composure. As Nel outlined the state’s argument, the 27-year-old repeatedly said to Judge Thokozile Masipa “that’s incorrect.”
When Nel concluded his cross-examination, the runner shared a long hug with his younger sister Aimee, who has been in court every day. His family and friends, sitting in the first row of the public gallery, appeared to congratulate each other.
Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to intentionally killing Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, saying he mistook her for an intruder early morning Valentine’s Day 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to two other charges connected with the reckless discharge of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.
Yet in the five days Nel has been cross-examining the athlete, the veteran prosecutor has highlighted glaring discrepancies in the Olympian’s account, depicting Pistorius as a selfish, gun-obsessed man who is unwilling to accept responsibility for his actions.
“Who should we blame for the black talon rounds that ripped through her body?” said Nel, his voice raising in volume. “I’m putting it to you Mr. Pistorius that your version is not only untruthful, but it’s so improbable it cannot be reasonably, possibly true.” The double-amputee, once revered for his triumph over his disability, repeatedly said he had no intention of killing anyone, that he “didn’t have time to think” and accidentally fired the shots. “I fired because I got a fright,” said Pistorius. He has also testified that he feared someone was coming through the toilet door and believed his life was in danger. Pistorius has blamed police, his lawyers-and his memory on inconsistencies between his account and the state’s. In his short re-examination of the athlete, Barry Roux asked Pistorius if he meant to fire four shots through the locked toilet door. “Did you consciously pull the trigger or not?” asked Roux. “Not, my lady,” said Pistorius, “I didn’t think about pulling the trigger.” Asking his final question to his cli- ent, Roux introduced evidence “HHH,” Steenkamp’s Valentine’s Day card to Pistorius, asking the runner to read the contents out loud. “The envelope says Ozzie with some hearts and a squiggle,” said Pistorius in a shaky voice, “it says . . . ‘roses are red, violets are blue . . .’ she said ‘I think today is a good day to tell you that, I love you.’ ” The card would have marked the first time Steenkamp told Pistorius she loved him. Ending more than a week of dramatic testimony, the defence called forensic geologist Roger Dixon to the witness stand. The defence is expected to call up to 17 experts that will support Pistorius’s version of events. Dixon, a former employee of the South African Police Service, testified he did tests of the cricket bat hitting the door, saying the noises sounded like gunshots. He also testified there was police tampering at the crime scene, a key element of the defence’s case. “It is most unprofessional,” said Dixon, referring to shoe prints that were allegedly left by police on the toilet door.