No balance on stumps, Oscar tells court
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has no balance when on his stumps, he told the High Court in Pretoria on Monday.
Aimee, sister of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, cries as her brother takes the stand to testify at the high court in Pretoria on Monday, 7 April 2014. The athlete is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp whom he shot dead through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. He claims he mistook her for an intruder. Picture: Deaan Vivier/Media24/Pool
“I can’t stand still on my stumps. I seldom have time when I’m not wearing my prosthetic legs… I don’t have very good balance,” he said to questioning from his lawyer Barry Roux.
Accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, he was testifying in his own defence.
According to his bail application statement, he was on his stumps when he shot four times through the locked door of his toilet, killing Steenkamp.
He claims he thought she was an intruder. He then put his prostheses on to kick at the door and break it open with a cricket bat.
Led by Roux, he told the court the difficulties of having to wear prosthetic legs.
He said travelling caused problems like skin irritation on his stumps because of having to wear his prostheses for long periods of time on flights.
“If something happens on a plane I wouldn’t have the luxury of putting my prosthetic legs on quickly enough.
“I’ve had blood clotting, some of which involved hospitalisation after the flights.”
Before this, Roux asked him about his family history, schooling, and athletic career.
Pistorius also faces charges related to alleged contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, to which has pleaded not guilty.
– Sapa
