Oscar Trial: Unclear how Tashas shooting leaked
It is unclear how the media found out about Oscar Pistorius firing a gunshot at Tashas restaurant in Melrose Arch last year, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Wednesday.
Oscar Pistorius is seen on the second day of his murder trial in Pretoria, Tuesday, 4 March 2014. The double amputee Paralympian is appearing in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius is accused of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Feb 14 2013. Picture: Antoine de Ras – Pool
Boxer Kevin Lerena, who was grazed by the bullet Pistorius accidentally fired at the restaurant in January last year, said he had never told anyone about the incident.
“I never spoke about it again. On the 16th (February, 2013) I had over 100 phone calls from the media,” Lerena told the court.
This was just two days after Pistorius had shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder.
Dressed in a black suit, a white shirt and red tie, Lerena said international media was reporting that Pistorius had in the previous month shot him in the leg.
He was then contacted by the police who wanted to confirm the reports.
Lerena said he told the police the reports were false as he was not injured during the incident.
Earlier he told the court that he was shocked when the gun went off, narrowly missing his foot.
He said the gun had gone off after a friend, Darren Fresco, passed it to Pistorius.
Pistorius, Lerena, Fresco and Martyn Rooney, a British sprinter, were having lunch at the restaurant.
Lerena told the court that after the gun went off, Pistorius asked whether everyone was okay and then asked Fresco to take the fall for him.
“Oscar said ‘please Darren, say it was you. I don’t want any tension around me. Please take the blame for me,” said Lerena.
Pistorius took notes as Lerena spoke of the incident.
The State was expected to start cross-examining Lerena later in the afternoon.
The buff, dark-haired boxer was the fourth witness to testify as the trial moved into its third day.
– Sapa
