Oscar Pistorius denies trying to intimidate Reeva Steenkamp's friend
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Version 0 of 1. Oscar Pistorius has been accused of trying to intimidate a friend of Reeva Steenkamp by turning to her in court and asking: "How can you sleep at night?" The South African Paralympian who is on trial for Steenkamp's murder, flatly denied speaking to Kim Myers but witnesses, including a police officer, claimed they heard Pistorius as he left the dock during an adjournment. A complaint was lodged with South Africa's national prosecuting authority. Ian Levitt, a lawyer, said: "My client Kim Myers was approached by Oscar Pistorius in court today and, in a very sinister tone, was asked: 'How can you sleep at night?' My client views this unwelcome approach as extremely disturbing and I have been in communication with the national prosecuting authorities as well as the investigating officer. All other parties have been informed. My client will remain focused on the trial and will continue to attend court in support of Reeva." Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, was a close friend of Myers and lived with her family in the months before being shot dead by her boyfriend at the age of 29. Myers was among those called to identify Steenkamp's body hours after she was shot dead by Pistorius. Asked why the athlete might have approached his client, Levitt suggested Pistorius may have been upset by interviews the Myers had previously given to the media in which they expressed concern about the intensity of his relationship with Steenkamp. "Reeva was living with the Myers and they did make statements – he might be upset because of what they said, might have the slanted view that they're against him." Myers was shocked by what happened, he added. "She wants to continue to be in court in support of Reeva but it's very upsetting and disturbing." Myers' mother, Desi, who regularly sits beside her in the public gallery, was said to be furious about the incident. Police warrant officer Barend van Staden confirmed that he had heard Pistorius say: "How can you sleep at night?" and reported it to the chief prosecutor, Gerrie Nel. But when reporters questioned Pistorius about the claim, he replied: "No, I haven't spoken to her". Pressed further, he insisted: "I haven't spoken to them for a year and a half. I walk past them in the corridors and hold doors open for them but they don't look me in the eye." Told of Pistorius's denial, Levitt replied: "Not only is she standing by what he said, but she finds it unfathomable that he denies it in front of a number of witnesses. "He's denied a whole lot of things. He's in a big process of denial. I understand he said it in the presence of some witnesses so his denial is obviously a lie." Brian Webber, a member of Pistorius's legal team, said: "It's grossly untrue. I'm not even going to dignify that with a comment. He never said anything of the sort." Pistorius is accused of murdering Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year. He claims he panicked because he thought he heard an intruder. The runner initially told the court that he shot Steenkamp through a locked toilet door, thinking she was an intruder. But he later changed his testimony to say he fired the four shots accidentally. Nel has accused the athlete of "tailoring" his evidence, calling his account of the killing a lie. Earlier on Tuesday the high court in Pretoria heard from three of Pistorius's closest neighbours, all of whom said they heard a man crying on the night Steenkamp was shot and described it as a "high-pitched cry". All three testified that they did not hear a woman screaming. The two female witnesses were asked by the defence counsel, Barry Roux, to replicate the cry they heard that night. Each made a high-pitched, anguished scream that filled the courtroom. Michael Nhlengethwa told the court Pistorius introduced Steenkamp to him as "my fiancée" days before she was killed – " a claim that was not explored further" – and that the athlete would be moving to Johannesburg to be closer to her. The trial continues. |