Oscar Pistorius grilled by Nel: 'You shot and killed her. Say it'

Correspondent | Wednesday April 9, 2014 16:32

 

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began his cross examination by pushing Mr Pistorius to acknowledge the full magnitude of his actions on 14 February 2013.

The athlete said he made a 'mistake' when he shot Ms Steenkamp in his home.

'You killed a person, that's what you did! You shot and killed her, won't you take responsibility?' Mr Nel said.

A graphic picture of Ms Steenkamp's head was shown to the court for the first time, prompting anguish from Mr Pistorius and a further adjournment of proceedings.

Oscar Pistorius told prosecutor Gerrie Nel that he 'made a terrible mistake'

The court was shown a Sky News report showing Pistorius at a shooting range

Later, the prosecution sought to highlight what they said were inconsistencies in Mr Pistorius' statements, questioning his claims that police tampered with items in his home after the shooting.

'I am not pleading not guilty because the scene was contaminated,' Mr Pistorius countered. 'I am pleading not guilty because what I'm accused of didn't happen.'

The athlete denies deliberately shooting dead his girlfriend, arguing he mistook her for an intruder.

Prosecutors contend he intentionally killed her in the toilet of his bathroom after a row.

The 27-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murder.

(BBC)