Oscar Trial: Roux grills Johnson
A witness who testified in Oscar Pistorius's murder trial gave important evidence without being prompted to do so, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Wednesday.
Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer Barry Roux, speaks at the start of his trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 3, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (Themba Hadebe, POOL)
Cross-examining Charl Johnson, Barry Roux, SC, for Pistorius, said Johnson gave evidence that was consistent with his wife Michelle Burger’s evidence, yet the couple claimed to have not discussed the merits of the case.
Roux said Burger had revealed certain facts while under cross-examination, but Johnson had freely revealed the same facts as he delivered his evidence-in-chief.
Johnson told the court he had avoided all media broadcasts, social media interaction and telephone and sms communication.
“I’ve done my best to avoid any exposure to the proceedings,” said Johnson.
He maintained that he had never seen the statement that his wife made or the testimony she delivered.
Johnson told the court he had taken notes on his laptop and his tablet as he remembered more facts about that evening.
“I was advised by (an official) to take notes so as to able to remember what happened as I was told these things (court cases) take time,” said Johnson.
Roux asked whether the court would be able to tell when these notes were made, and if it could be proved that the notes were not made after Johnson had heard his wife’s testimony.
“Yes,” responded Johnson.
Burger completed her testimony on Tuesday.
The couple live at the Silver Stream Estate, which is next to Silver Woods Country Estate, the complex where Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
He claimed he had mistaken her for an intruder.
Burger and Johnson claimed to have heard screams and shots coming from Pistorius home, which was around 177 metres away from their home.
– Sapa
