CONSPIRACY theories and “completely implausible” ideas of police framing Oscar Pistorius for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp were smacked down by the state in the Pretoria High Court yesterday.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel tried to show the improbability of Pistorius’ version of how Steenkamp died on Valentine’s Day last year.
Amongst the disputed evidence is:
- Whether a bedroom light was on when Pistorius woke before the shooting;
If he went onto the balcony to scream for help;
Where the fans were; and
The position of his duvet, curtains and balcony sliding door.Pistorius yesterday insisted the bedroom was in complete darkness, the curtains drawn and fans positioned between the slightly open sliding doors.
Crime scene photographs taken at 5.58am on 14 February 2013 show lights on, curtains fully open, doors wide open and a fan foot positioned on the sliding door rail, the exact spot Pistorius would have had to run past to reach the balcony. Steenkamp was fatally shot at 3.17am.
Nel argued that Pistorius’ attempt to accuse police of tampering with the crime scene could not be supported, given that the photos would have been taken even before police knew of his defence.
Nel said: “Is this one big conspiracy, Mr Pistorius?“
“Whatever you are trying to do, Mr Pistorius, it is not working … your version is so improbable that no one would ever think it is reasonably possibly true.”
Criminal defence lawyer William Booth said Nel’s cross-examination was intended to break down Pistorius’ version of events.
“What is incredibly important is the differences in what he told the bail court and what he is now telling the trial court,” Booth said.
In Pistorius’s bail application he said there was one fan that he brought in from the balcony and that he spoke to Steenkamp when they went to sleep earlier in the evening. In his plea explanation, he said he brought in two fans and he spoke to Steenkamp when he woke up to bring in the fans.
Pistorius stands accused of deliberately murdering Steenkamp in a heated argument.
The defence maintains he mistook her for an intruder.
Nel – presenting Pistorius as an egotistical, narcissistic, negligent, gun-loving individual who fails to take responsibility for his actions – drilled Pistorius on why he opened fire on a locked toilet door.
“You say you fired by mistake?”
“Yes,” said Pistorius. “I didn’t have time to think. There was a noise. I can’t remember how many shots I fired. I just fired … in quick succession.”
Turning to the firearm and ammunition charges, Nel pushed Pistorius into admitting he had been negligent in storing ammunition for his father. “You are so willing not to take responsibility even up to the point of blaming your counsel,” Nel said. — Additional reporting by Tymon Smith and AFP
Nel rips into Oscar’s tale of killing
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel tried to show the improbability of Pistorius’ version of how Steenkamp died on Valentine’s Day last year.
Amongst the disputed evidence is:
Pistorius yesterday insisted the bedroom was in complete darkness, the curtains drawn and fans positioned between the slightly open sliding doors.
Crime scene photographs taken at 5.58am on 14 February 2013 show lights on, curtains fully open, doors wide open and a fan foot positioned on the sliding door rail, the exact spot Pistorius would have had to run past to reach the balcony. Steenkamp was fatally shot at 3.17am.
Nel argued that Pistorius’ attempt to accuse police of tampering with the crime scene could not be supported, given that the photos would have been taken even before police knew of his defence.
Nel said: “Is this one big conspiracy, Mr Pistorius?“
“Whatever you are trying to do, Mr Pistorius, it is not working … your version is so improbable that no one would ever think it is reasonably possibly true.”
Criminal defence lawyer William Booth said Nel’s cross-examination was intended to break down Pistorius’ version of events.
“What is incredibly important is the differences in what he told the bail court and what he is now telling the trial court,” Booth said.
In Pistorius’s bail application he said there was one fan that he brought in from the balcony and that he spoke to Steenkamp when they went to sleep earlier in the evening. In his plea explanation, he said he brought in two fans and he spoke to Steenkamp when he woke up to bring in the fans.
Pistorius stands accused of deliberately murdering Steenkamp in a heated argument.
The defence maintains he mistook her for an intruder.
Nel – presenting Pistorius as an egotistical, narcissistic, negligent, gun-loving individual who fails to take responsibility for his actions – drilled Pistorius on why he opened fire on a locked toilet door.
“You say you fired by mistake?”
“Yes,” said Pistorius. “I didn’t have time to think. There was a noise. I can’t remember how many shots I fired. I just fired … in quick succession.”
Turning to the firearm and ammunition charges, Nel pushed Pistorius into admitting he had been negligent in storing ammunition for his father. “You are so willing not to take responsibility even up to the point of blaming your counsel,” Nel said. — Additional reporting by Tymon Smith and AFP
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