Samuel Mungadze
OSCAR Pistorius‚ the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter accused of murder‚ will tell the court everything that happened the night when his girlfriend was killed at his home in Pretoria‚ his lawyer‚ Barry Roux‚ told the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (19/02/2013).
Mr Pistorius has been charged with the Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend‚ Reeva Steenkamp‚ a model and law graduate who was shot dead in a bathroom at his home in Pretoria last Thursday.
The athlete was in court on Tuesday for his bail application‚ his second appearance since Thursday. The prosecution was opposing bail.
Mr Pistorius‚ wearing a dark blue suit‚ kept looking at his feet‚ his jaw clenched‚ as submissions on Steenkamp’s final moments were made to magistrate Desmond Nair. He broke down in tears when his lawyer started defending him.
Adv Roux questioned the state’s case of premeditated murder. "The moment I pick up a gun and shoot‚ it’s premeditated?” he asked.
"We submit it’s not even murder‚” he told the court. "There’s no agreement there‚ not even concession that this is murder.”
He told the court that this case was not unique and he would prove it during trial. "Are we immune to what’s happening in the world out there? I will put forward case after case where husbands shot wives through the door (thinking they were burglars).”
He said he would also bring evidence of burglaries and robberies at security complexes‚ if necessary.
Adv Roux added: "The accused wants to take the court into his confidence. He will give a full account of what happened in affidavit.”
The prosecution‚ however‚ said Mr Pistorius had put on his prosthetic legs‚ walked 7m to the bathroom and fired four shots‚ three of which hit Steenkamp.
"He prepared. He armed himself. The motive was‚ he wanted to kill‚” said Adv Gerrie Nel‚ who is leading the prosecution.
He said the bathroom door was broken down and‚ according to blood-spatter analysis‚ Mr Pistorius picked up Steenkamp and carried her downstairs.
The state wants him to explain why he had removed the deceased from the bathroom. "He must tell us why he lifted her body down the stairs after he shot her‚” said Adv Nel.
He also said he would show why Steenkamp had locked herself in the bathroom.
He maintained that the crime had been planned. "Planning is — I ready myself‚ I get a gun‚ I make it ready to fire and I walk there to shoot‚” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday‚ Mr Pistorius was brought to court from the Brooklyn police station‚ where he had been held since his first appearance on Friday.
Security officers shouted at members of the local and world media pushing to enter the court‚ although Mr Pistorius was brought in through a different entrance from the one used on Friday‚ mostly escaping the glare of international publicity.
A group of ANC Women’s League members carried placards denouncing the sport star. Some of the larger placards read "Pistorius must rot in jail” and "No violence against women”. Others read: "No to killing of women and children”. -
With Sapa © BDlive 2013
