Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Pistorius lawyers quiz key witness

Defence lawyer Barry Roux proposes a 'toilet test' in an attempt to prove a witness' evidence is unreliable

Defence lawyers of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius have resumed questioning a neighbour who told a court in Pretoria that heard a woman's "terrible screams" on 14 February 2013.
Mr Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He shot dead the 29-year-old model and reality TV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
The neighbour, Michelle Burger, said cries for help were followed by shots.
"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help," Ms Burger told the high court in the capital on the first day of the trial.
She said she called security and then heard four gunshots.
The arrest of the national sporting hero astounded South Africa.
The 27-year-old double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
Media warned
For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial are being televised live, although Ms Burger's testimony, in Afrikaans, is being relayed in audio.
Some witness testimony is being excluded from TV broadcasts, although audio of the entire trial is being broadcast.
The court was briefly adjourned as questioning began on the second day of the trial over concerns Ms Burger's photograph was shown on television on Tuesday.
Oscar Pistorius shelters from the rain as he makes his way to North Gauteng High Court for the second day of his trial on 4 March 2014 There is heavy rain in Pretoria on the the second day of the trial as Oscar Pistorius arrives at the court
Members of the media and the public surround the vehicle of South African Paralympian star Oscar Pistorius as he leaves court on 3 March 2014There is huge interest in South Africa and around the world about the trial
Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius with his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Johannesburg on 26 January 2013 South Africa was stunned when the athlete shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp
Judge Thokozile Masipa warned that no photographs of witnesses from any sources were to be used by the media and any violators would not be "treated with soft gloves".
The BBC's Andrew Harding in court says defence lawyer Barry Roux began his remarks by outlining what he would focus on with Ms Berger's testimony today: Her credibility and reliability.

No comments:

Post a Comment