Oscar trial: defence deals with uncalled witnesses
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius's defence on Wednesday dealt with statements from State witnesses not called to testify in his murder trial.
FILE PICTURE: Aimee, sister of paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, attends his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, Tuesday, 8 April 2014. No media coverage except audio is allowed while Pistorius is testifying. Pistorius stands trial for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013. Picture: Masi Losi/Pretoria News/Pool
Barry Roux, SC, for Pistorius, told the court he would read from statements from the athlete’s neighbours at Silver Woods estate on his third day in the witness stand in the High Court in Pretoria.
Roux asked Pistorius to point out his house on a photograph on the television screen on his right.
He was dealing with witness 85 on the State’s witness list, Bareng Job Kenneth Motshuane.
“If his statement is the truth, he makes reference to crying and not to a woman screaming,” Roux said.
Pistorius replied: “That is correct my lady.”
Describing his relationship with Motshuane, Pistorius said he gave him trees as a welcoming gift when he moved in. He said when he drove by he they would greet each other.
“He is just my neighbour. I don’t know him well,” said Pistorius.
He said they went to each other’s homes.
Roux continued to move to another direct neighbour, number 78 on the State’s witness list, Michael Raymond Nhlengethwa.
“If his statement is to be believed he did not hear a woman screaming,” Roux said.
Pistorius replied saying that was correct.
Describing his relationship with Nhlengethwa, Pistorius said: “He became a good neighbour to me. I don’t know him on a social level.”
Pistorius said they also never went to his house.
Pistorius got up to demonstrate on the television screen where his bedroom and bathroom windows are.
Roux: “Are they on the same side?”
Pistorius replied: “They are on the same side.”
He said he met Nhlengethwa’s wife a couple of years ago.
Roux said that according to her statement she heard a bang and told her husband to get up. He made a phone call to security.
Roux: “She heard a loud cry not crying.”
Pistorius replied: “That is correct.”
Pistorius is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot through the locked toilet door of his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
He says he mistook her for an intruder.
He has pleaded not guilty and in his plea statement denied he had argued with her shortly before the shooting.
He also faces two charges related to contravening the Firearms Control Act, to which he has denied guilt.
– Sapa
