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Oscar Pistorius' neighbours 'heard man crying loudly' | Oscar Pistorius' neighbours 'heard man crying loudly' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three of Oscar Pistorius' nearest neighbours said they heard a man crying loudly on the night the athlete shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | |
They also said they did not hear a woman screaming, contradicting earlier testimonies from other neighbours. | They also said they did not hear a woman screaming, contradicting earlier testimonies from other neighbours. |
The witnesses were called by Mr Pistorius' defence team to testify at his murder trial, as it seeks to prove he shot his girlfriend by mistake. | The witnesses were called by Mr Pistorius' defence team to testify at his murder trial, as it seeks to prove he shot his girlfriend by mistake. |
He denies intentionally killing Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year. | He denies intentionally killing Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year. |
The South African Paralympic sprinter says he shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder. | The South African Paralympic sprinter says he shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder. |
Loud crying | Loud crying |
The athlete's next-door neighbour, Michael Nhlengethwa, told the court on Tuesday that on the night of the shooting he went to the house after hearing a man "crying very loudly". | The athlete's next-door neighbour, Michael Nhlengethwa, told the court on Tuesday that on the night of the shooting he went to the house after hearing a man "crying very loudly". |
"I saw Oscar kneeling next to the lady, he was just crying," the witness said. | "I saw Oscar kneeling next to the lady, he was just crying," the witness said. |
His wife, Eontle, also testifying, said she heard the loud sound of a "male person's voice" crying "help, help, help". | His wife, Eontle, also testifying, said she heard the loud sound of a "male person's voice" crying "help, help, help". |
Another neighbour, Rika Motshuane, insisted that she heard a man crying, describing it as a "cry of pain". | |
The three witnesses said they did not hear a female screaming, contradicting prosecution witnesses who had testified to hearing a woman scream. | |
The defence's case is that Ms Steenkamp never screamed, but that it was Mr Pistorius who screamed "like a woman". | |
Ms Eontle also revealed, under cross-examination from state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, that she heard the sound of one bang, compared with the two or three bangs heard by other neighbours who had testified. | |
Mr Nel suggested that the noise she had heard came from the second set of bangs, after Ms Steenkamp had already been shot. | Mr Nel suggested that the noise she had heard came from the second set of bangs, after Ms Steenkamp had already been shot. |
Mr Pistorius kept his head in his hands as he listened to his neighbours' testimonies. | |
Mr Roux said on Tuesday that he expected to wrap up his defence case in a week, to which the judge responded "I hope so". | |
The court has now adjourned until Thursday - the day after South Africa's elections. | |
On Monday two other neighbours - who were first at the scene - described Mr Pistorius' frantic efforts to revive Ms Steenkamp. | |
Johan Stander, the first person Mr Pistorius called after the shooting, said the athlete "was broken", sobbing and praying for her life. | |
In an emotional testimony, his daughter, Carice Viljoen, told the court she feared the athlete would shoot himself with the gun used to kill Ms Steenkamp. | In an emotional testimony, his daughter, Carice Viljoen, told the court she feared the athlete would shoot himself with the gun used to kill Ms Steenkamp. |
Before the Easter break, the athlete faced several days of cross-examination from Mr Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts "as an escape". | Before the Easter break, the athlete faced several days of cross-examination from Mr Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts "as an escape". |
As well as a ballistics expert, the defence is expected to call a psychologist to speak about Mr Pistorius' disability and his acute sense of vulnerability. | As well as a ballistics expert, the defence is expected to call a psychologist to speak about Mr Pistorius' disability and his acute sense of vulnerability. |
The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behaviour by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door. | The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behaviour by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door. |
If found guilty, the 27-year-old - a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty, the 27-year-old - a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. |
Ms Steenkamp, 29, was a model, celebrity TV star and law graduate. | Ms Steenkamp, 29, was a model, celebrity TV star and law graduate. |
If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison. | If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison. |
He also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies. | He also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of 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. |