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Pistorius trial discusses Steenkamp last meal Pistorius trial discusses Steenkamp last meal
(35 minutes later)
The 28th day of Oscar Pistorius's trial has begun with discussion of when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal.The 28th day of Oscar Pistorius's trial has begun with discussion of when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal.
Witness Christina Lundgren, an anaesthetist, described when a stomach is likely to be emptied after eating.Witness Christina Lundgren, an anaesthetist, described when a stomach is likely to be emptied after eating.
She said the prosecution's argument that Ms Steenkamp's stomach would have been empty if she ate when Mr Pistorius said she did was "pure speculation".She said the prosecution's argument that Ms Steenkamp's stomach would have been empty if she ate when Mr Pistorius said she did was "pure speculation".
Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year.Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing Ms Steenkamp on 14 February last year.
The South African Paralympic sprinter says he accidentally shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder.The South African Paralympic sprinter says he accidentally shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder.
'Gastric emptying''Gastric emptying'
Mr Pistorius had said Ms Steenkamp ate her last meal the evening before she was killed, and that the couple had been sleeping before waking in the early hours. Mr Pistorius had said the couple had dinner at about 1900 the evening Ms Steenkamp was killed. He said the couple went to sleep between 2100 and 2200.
The prosecution has argued that this cannot be true as Ms Steenkamp had food in her stomach at the time of her death. The prosecution has argued that this cannot be true as Ms Steenkamp had food in her stomach at the time of her death. Ms Steenkamp was shot in the early hours of 14 February.
Speaking on Thursday, Prof Lundgren, who was shown copies of the post mortem report, said there were many factors that could have delayed gastric emptying in Ms Steenkamp's stomach, including sleep, exercise, medication, and her age.Speaking on Thursday, Prof Lundgren, who was shown copies of the post mortem report, said there were many factors that could have delayed gastric emptying in Ms Steenkamp's stomach, including sleep, exercise, medication, and her age.
"In an ideal world, after six hours of fasting after [the] meal her stomach should probably have been empty. But there are so many unknowns about possible factors that might have delayed gastric emptying," she said."In an ideal world, after six hours of fasting after [the] meal her stomach should probably have been empty. But there are so many unknowns about possible factors that might have delayed gastric emptying," she said.
"One cannot state it as being fact" that Ms Steenkamp's stomach would have been empty six hours after eating, Prof Lundgren said. "I would say it is purely speculative.""One cannot state it as being fact" that Ms Steenkamp's stomach would have been empty six hours after eating, Prof Lundgren said. "I would say it is purely speculative."