Oscar Pistorius to take stand as trial resumes

pretoria, south africa » More than a year after he killed his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius is expected to answer questions about why he shot Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door when his murder trial resumes this week.

His attorneys will begin presenting the evidence they hope will save the Olympic athlete from going to prison for 25 years to life.

Pistorius’ account that he killed Steenkamp by mistake is going to “stand or fall” with his testimony in court, a legal expert said.

Charged with premeditated murder for Steenkamp’s death, Pistorius and his defense team say he will testify to counter accusations that he intentionally killed Steenkamp by firing four times through the door in his bathroom before dawn on Valentine’s Day last year, hitting her in the head, arm and hip.

Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for a dangerous intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle.

But Pistorius’ testimony also gives prosecutors the chance to cross-examine the celebrated double-amputee runner and scrutinize every aspect of his story.

Brian Webber, one of Pistorius’ attorneys, said they had no choice but to put Pistorius on the stand. Legal experts say it’s a risk Pistorius’ defense has to take. In a rare comment after the prosecution closed its case, Pistorius said,“We have a lot ahead of us.”