Pistorius Trial: Reeva 'Couldn't Have Screamed'

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 04 Maret 2014 | 18.46

Oscar Pistorius' defence team says claims by a neighbour that she heard a woman's screams after Reeva Steenkamp was shot will be thrown into doubt by expert evidence.

Neighbour Michelle Burger, who says she heard Ms Steenkamp being killed by Pistorius, is being grilled by the athlete's defence team for a second day.

Reeva Steenkamp on set of reality TV show Tropika Island of Treasure (Pic: Stimulii) Oscar Pistorius shot dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

She told the packed courtroom in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria she heard a woman screaming as shots were being fired in Pistorius' residence.

But Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux said: "We will debate the sequence of the bullets. We will have experts state that there was serious brain damage after the shot to the head, that it would not have been possible for her to scream at all."

The trial of Oscar Pistorius Pistorius chats with his legal team during a break

Ms Burger replied: "As I said yesterday, I heard her voice just after the last shot. It could have been that it was as the last shot was fired."

Mr Roux opened Tuesday's questioning by saying he wanted to focus on two aspects of Ms Burger, her "credibility and reliability".

The trial of Oscar Pistorius Pistorius looks on from the dock as the case unfolds

Mr Roux has repeatedly attempted to establish this morning that Ms Burger had already decided she did not believe Pistorius' account of the evening - that he believed there was an intruder in his home - when she gave her evidence contradicting his story.

She is the prosecution's key witness, as her account of hearing a woman's screams suggests Pistorius would have known that it was his girlfriend rather than an intruder when he fired.

The trial of Oscar Pistorius The world's media is watching the case closely

A tense exchange between Mr Roux and Ms Burger came to a climax when he said he had asked her the same question eight times.

"I'm going to be really slow this time," he said. "You heard at the bail application that it was put on behalf of Mr Pistorius that Reeva did not scream that night, is that correct?"

The trial of Oscar Pistorius Pistorius' family are in the public gallery

After giving an unclear answer, Judge Thokozile Masipa insisted that she had to give a clear answer. Eventually, the witness admitted she had heard about Pistorius' claims.

Mr Roux said: "You've watched Sky News, you've watched other channels, and you've got retrospective knowledge and you take that knowledge and you come and give evidence today as if it's the knowledge of that fateful evening."

Police crime scene tape marks off the Pretoria home of Oscar Pistorius The Pretoria home of Pistorius pictured after the shooting

Earlier, the trial was temporarily delayed after an image of the witness was used by a South African news organisation.

The trial is being televised, but witnesses can choose not to appear on camera.

Oscar Pistorius speaks to his uncle before court proceedings on the second day of his trial. Pistorius turns to chat to his uncle

Ms Burger does not want to be filmed or pictured, and the case was temporarily adjourned just before 8am after Judge Masipa was alerted to an image of the witness that had appeared in local media.

The judge said she viewed the error as "serious" and ordered an investigation.

The trial of Oscar Pistorius The Paralympic athlete looks down at his notes

The double-amputee is accused of the premeditated murder of Ms Steenkamp last Valentine's Day after a jealous row, illegal possession of ammunition and two additional counts relating to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

The 27-year-old, who is known as the Blade Runner, denies all the charges against him. He claims he shot his girlfriend by mistake at his home after mistaking her for an intruder.

Pistorius Promo

The trial, large parts of which can be broadcast live after a landmark ruling, is scheduled to last for three weeks and will hear from more than 100 witnesses.

South Africa does not have a jury system. Instead, Judge Masipa will decide his fate.

If Pistorius is found guilty he could be jailed for at least 25 years.

More follows...

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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