Oscar Pistorius murder trial: What to expect in the closing arguments

ON August 7 and 8, the state and the defence will play a game of connect-the-dots when they deliver their closing arguments in Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial.

Below is an idea of what prosecutor Gerrie Nel and defence advocate Barry Roux are likely to present in their closing arguments to show either the guilt or the innocence of the athlete.

The other three charges

Pistorius is also charged with three counts of contravening the Firearms Control Act.

The state says Pistorius fired a shot through the sunroof of a car on September 30 2012.

Ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor and friend Darren Fresco testified that they were in the car when this happened. Taylor said Pistorius fired because he and Fresco were angry after being pulled over for speeding. Fresco said he had no idea why Pistorius fired the shot.

The defence denies this shooting.

The state also says Pistorius fired a shot in Tasha's restaurant in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, in January 2013.

The defence does not deny a shot went off while Pistorius held the firearm, but says Fresco handed him an unsafe firearm and the firearm fired by accident, without Pistorius ever pulling the trigger.

The final charge is one of possession of ammunition for which Pistorius has no licence. The ammunition was found in Pistorius’s safe and he claims he was keeping it safe for his father, Henke.

However, his father refused to make a statement in the case and thus did not confirm or deny that the ammunition belonged to him. – Marzanne van den Berg