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Oscar Pistorius recounts night of killing Oscar Pistorius recounts moment 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 described the moment he fired the shots which killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home.
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 told his trial in Pretoria he had heard noises from the toilet and thought an intruder was coming out.
He said he was overcome with fear after hearing a noise from the bathroom. "Before I knew it, I had fired four shots at the door," he said.
Earlier, he cried when describing Valentine's Day gifts they were to give each other. The athlete, who denies deliberately shooting Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, could face life imprisonment if convicted of murder.
The 27-year-old double amputee cried when describing the Valentine's Day gifts they had planned 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 double amputee athlete could face life imprisonment. On Tuesday, he again broke down into sobs and the judge adjourned the trial.
'Started screaming''Started screaming'
After bringing in some fans from the balcony in the early hours of 14 February 2013, he said he had heard a noise.After bringing in some fans from the balcony in the early hours of 14 February 2013, he said he had heard a noise.
In a voice trembling with emotion, he told his murder trial: "That's the moment everything changed.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.""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. The athlete 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.
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 said 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.
The toilet door then slammed, which reconfirmed there was a person or people in the bathroom, the athlete said.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. "I heard a noise from inside the toilet, what I perceived to be someone coming out of the toilet," he said tearfully. It was then he had shot at the door, he said.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in court says Mr Pistorius 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.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.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.The prosecution alleges that Mr Pistorius deliberately shot his girlfriend after the couple had had an argument.
Valentine's gifts
Earlier, he said that they had both bought Valentine's Day gifts for each other.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.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 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.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.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.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.Known as the Blade Runner, Mr Pistorius holds six Paralympic medals and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.