Oscar Pistorius: 'An Appalling, Vague Witness'

The chief prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius trial has accused the athlete's lawyers of presenting a dishonest defence against his murder charge.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel made the allegation in his closing speech against the athlete who shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door at his home in February 2013.

Mr Nel said a criminal trial was a "blunt instrument for digging up the truth," adding Pistorius' lawyers argued the athlete acted in self-defence as he feared an intruder was in his house, but also suggested he was not criminally responsible, shooting Ms Steenkamp because he was 'startled'.

Reeva's parents June and Barry Steenkamp arrive for the hearing

"It's two defences you can never reconcile," said Nel, who went on to accuse Pistorius of being an "appalling, vague" and "deceitful" witness.

Pistorius was "more interested in defending his life than telling the truth," Mr Nel said.

"His story is so improbable it's a clear indication of his mendacity."

As Mr Nel summed-up some 100 pages of evidence that were submitted to the court last week, Pistorious occasionally shook his head in disagreement and held his head in his hands.

Sky's Alex Crawford reporting from the court in Pretoria said: "It was like watching flashbacks from a horror film. Gerrie Nel picked up what he believed to be (Pistorius') most devastating moments in court.

"He drew a very ugly picture of Oscar Pistorius, the man and the personality. A hero who had fallen so low, in the view of Gerrie Nel."

Prosecution and defence lawyers will sum up their cases over the next two days in a final attempt to convince judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa before she reaches her verdict.

Pistorius, 27, faces a minimum of 25 years in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder. He could also be convicted on lesser charges, such as culpable homicide or murder without premeditation.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Pistorius of being a 'deceitful' witness

The prosecution says Pistorius intentionally shot Ms Steenkamp in anger after a quarrel. His defence insists he fired by mistake, thinking an intruder was in the toilet cubicle and that Ms Steenkamp was in the bedroom.

Ms Steenkamp's parents are in court listening to the closing speeches which are expected to last two days. It is the first time her father, Barry Steenkamp, has attended court since the trial began.

The hearing in Pretoria was put on hold last month after hearing from 37 witnesses.

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