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| Pistorius trial discusses Steenkamp last meal | Pistorius trial discusses Steenkamp last meal |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The 28th day of Oscar Pistorius's trial has heard evidence on when Reeva Steenkamp may have eaten her last meal. | |
| Witness Prof Christina Lundgren, an anaesthetist, described when a stomach is likely to be emptied after eating. | Witness Prof 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 Olympic athlete says he accidentally shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder. | The South African Olympic athlete says he accidentally shot her through a toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking her for an intruder. |
| Social worker Yvette van Schalkwyk, who also gave evidence on Thursday, said Mr Pistorius was "heartbroken" after the killing. | Social worker Yvette van Schalkwyk, who also gave evidence on Thursday, said Mr Pistorius was "heartbroken" after the killing. |
| 'All about him' | 'All about him' |
| Ms Van Schalkwyk said she was asked to accompany Mr Pistorius immediately after the shooting for "emotional support". | Ms Van Schalkwyk said she was asked to accompany Mr Pistorius immediately after the shooting for "emotional support". |
| "I saw a heartbroken man. He cried 80% of the time," she said. | "I saw a heartbroken man. He cried 80% of the time," she said. |
| Ms Van Schalkwyk was a surprise witness who had asked to testify. She said she offered to speak after being upset by media claims that Mr Pistorius was "putting on a show" when he cried in court. | Ms Van Schalkwyk was a surprise witness who had asked to testify. She said she offered to speak after being upset by media claims that Mr Pistorius was "putting on a show" when he cried in court. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel objected, saying her evidence about Mr Pistorius' emotions were not relevant to the case. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel objected, saying her evidence about Mr Pistorius' emotions were not relevant to the case. |
| However, Judge Thokozile Masipa said Mr Nel had questioned Mr Pistorius' emotions, and allowed the witness to continue testifying. | However, Judge Thokozile Masipa said Mr Nel had questioned Mr Pistorius' emotions, and allowed the witness to continue testifying. |
| In his cross-examination, Mr Nel pushed Ms Van Schalkwyk to acknowledge that Mr Pistorius never said he was sorry that he had killed Ms Steenkamp. | In his cross-examination, Mr Nel pushed Ms Van Schalkwyk to acknowledge that Mr Pistorius never said he was sorry that he had killed Ms Steenkamp. |
| "It's all about him," the prosecutor said. "It's not 'sorry for what I've done'." | "It's all about him," the prosecutor said. "It's not 'sorry for what I've done'." |
| 'Purely speculative' | 'Purely speculative' |
| Earlier, the court heard evidence on when Ms Steenkamp may have had her last meal. | Earlier, the court heard evidence on when Ms Steenkamp may have had her last meal. |
| Mr Pistorius had said the couple had dinner at about 19:00 on the evening Ms Steenkamp was killed. He said they went to sleep between 21:00 and 22:00. | Mr Pistorius had said the couple had dinner at about 19:00 on the evening Ms Steenkamp was killed. He said they went to sleep between 21:00 and 22:00. |
| The prosecution has argued that this cannot be true, as Ms Steenkamp had food in her stomach at the time of her death, in the early hours of 14 February last year. | The prosecution has argued that this cannot be true, as Ms Steenkamp had food in her stomach at the time of her death, in the early hours of 14 February last year. |
| This indicates that Ms Steenkamp ate later than Mr Pistorius said, and that this meant the couple could have been awake, and arguing, before the shooting, the prosecution says. | This indicates that Ms Steenkamp ate later than Mr Pistorius said, and that this meant the couple could have been awake, and arguing, before the shooting, the prosecution says. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." |
| In his cross-examination, Mr Nel argued that Prof Lundgren's list of factors might not apply to Ms Steenkamp, and that in normal circumstances one would expect the stomach to be empty eight hours after eating food. | In his cross-examination, Mr Nel argued that Prof Lundgren's list of factors might not apply to Ms Steenkamp, and that in normal circumstances one would expect the stomach to be empty eight hours after eating food. |
| If found guilty, Mr Pistorius - 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, Mr Pistorius - 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 he 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 he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison. |
| 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. |