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Dentist on murder rap after Austrian dies in ‘rehab’
Contradictions highlighted in Oscar trial
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel on Thursday pointed out what he said were numerous contradictions in the testimony of murder-accused Oscar Pistorius.
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius (R) is seen with his defence team: Barry Roux (foreground), Brian Webber (L) and Kenny Oldwage (C) ahead of final arguments of his murder trial at the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, 7 August 2014.Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA/Pool
Nel told the High Court in Pretoria in his closing arguments that Pistorius was unable to explain why police would have tampered with his fans, duvet, and curtains at his home where he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
It was improbable that police would have moved all these items while they did not even know his version of events.
“The police couldn’t have done that. That’s just impossible,” said Nel, adding that the court could not entertain the highly improbable.
He said Pistorius had continuously tailored the evidence he presented to suit his own version.
Pistorius is charged with Steenkamp’s murder on Valentine’s Day last year. He shot her through the locked door of his toilet at his Pretoria home.
Pistorius has denied guilt, saying he thought she was an intruder about to open the door and attack him. The State contends he shot her during an argument.
Pistorius is also charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.
– Sapa
