Monday, 10 March 2014

Pistorius case - Pistorius retches as court hears Steenkamp autopsy details

                          Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius is pictured during a hearing on the sixth day of his trial for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, on March 10, 2014 at the high court in Pretoria (AFP)                                         
The testimony of pathologist Gert Saayman was interrupted twice by Pistorius' sobbing and retching but the defence team argued against an adjournment, saying a break would not improve the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete's state of mind.                                                                                                                
Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa imposed a broadcast blackout on Saayman's testimony out of respect for Steenkamp's family and to prevent viewers such as children from accidentally hearing its contents.
"Broadcast would compromise the privacy of the deceased, hurt the interests of the Steenkamps and be against the morals of society," Saayam said when he took the stand to argue for a temporary broadcast blackout of the trial, which had so far been shown in its entirety on live television.
Masipa, who has been presiding over the week-long trial, extended the ban to live reporting on Twitter.
Pistorius admits he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp but argues that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity and that he thought she was an intruder who had broken in to his luxury Pretoria home.
In his testimony, Saayman confirmed that Steenkamp died from multiple gunshot wounds, having been hit in the head, arm and hip by three shots fired through the locked door of a toilet cubicle. A fourth round fired by Pistorius missed.
As Saayman spoke, Pistorius sat with head bowed, covering his ears with his hands and a white handkerchief.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 posted by Emanto Ngaloru  March 10, 2014.                                                                                                                                                       

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