This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26939443

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Oscar Pistorius recounts night of killing Oscar Pistorius recounts night of killing
(35 minutes later)
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has begun to describe in court the moments leading up to the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has begun to describe in court the moments leading up to the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The athlete denies deliberately shooting dead Ms Steenkamp in his home on Valentine's Day last year, arguing he mistook her for an intruder.The athlete denies deliberately shooting dead Ms Steenkamp in his home on Valentine's Day last year, arguing he mistook her for an intruder.
He said he was overcome with fear after hearing a noise from the bathroom.He said he was overcome with fear after hearing a noise from the bathroom.
Earlier he cried when describing Valentine's Day gifts they were to give each other. Earlier, he cried when describing Valentine's Day gifts they were to give each other.
On his first day on the stand, he made a tearful apology to Ms Steenkamp's family.On his first day on the stand, he made a tearful apology to Ms Steenkamp's family.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old athlete could face life imprisonment. If found guilty, the 27-year-old double amputee athlete could face life imprisonment.
Describing hearing the noise, he told his murder trial in a voice trembling with emotion: "That's the moment everything changed". 'Started screaming'
"I thought that there was a burglar that was gaining entry to my home," he said After bringing in some fans from the balcony in the early hours of 14 February 2013, he said he had heard a noise.
The athlete, 27, said he wanted to protect Ms Steenkamp and went to get his gun. In a voice trembling with emotion, he told his murder trial: "That's the moment everything changed.
"I thought that there was a burglar that was gaining entry to my home."
The athlete, 27, said he had wanted to protect Ms Steenkamp who, he said, had been still awake when he woke up. He said he had gone to get his gun in the dark.
"I whispered to Reeva to get down and phone the police," he said."I whispered to Reeva to get down and phone the police," he said.
Shortly afterwards, he retched as a photograph of her body was briefly shown on a screen in court. He then went into the passage without his prosthetic legs and, overcome with fear, started screaming, and shouted for Ms Steenkamp to get to the floor.
He also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, which he denies. The toilet door then slammed, which reconfirmed there was a person or people in the bathroom, the athlete said.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in court says Mr Pistorius then appeared to retch as a photograph of Ms Steenkamp's body was briefly shown on a screen in court.
The athlete described how the couple had spent a quiet evening together - Ms Steenkamp had done some yoga as he spoke to his cousin on the phone.
He had then watched TV in bed with his head resting on her stomach and she would occasionally show him photos of cars she was looking at on her phone, he said.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Pistorius deliberately shot his girlfriend after the couple had had an argument.
Earlier, he said that they had both bought Valentine's Day gifts for each other.
Ms Steenkamp had left his - wrapped in pink, red and white paper - on the kitchen counter.
He had bought her a bracelet from a designer she liked and they were to go the jewellers' to collect it on Valentine's Day, followed by a quiet dinner together.
He cried as he told the court that he only opened his present on her birthday last year - 8 August - and it was a frame with four photos of the couple.
Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, which he denies.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate, was hit by at least three bullets while in the toilet cubicle of Mr Pistorius' home in Pretoria.
Known as the Blade Runner, Mr Pistorius holds six Paralympic medals and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.