Pistorius defense enters closing arguments
- 10 years ago
Oscar Pistorius, arriving at Pretoria's High Court, as his defense team prepares to wrap up their closing arguments.
Once a national sports icon, the double amputee is on trial for murdering his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.
The prosecution has portrayed Pistorius as a gun-obsessed hothead.
They say he deliberately shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door, where she was taking refuge during a heated argument.
The defense says the shooting was an accident; that Pistorius thought there was an intruder in the house.
He was acting on "primal instincts", said lead defense attorney Barry Roux during closing arguments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BARRY ROUX, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF REEVA STEENKAMP'S FAMILY LISTENING):
"He stands now with his finger ready to fire if necessary and he stands there and then..." (SLAMS HAND ON TABLE)
There is no jury
Once a national sports icon, the double amputee is on trial for murdering his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.
The prosecution has portrayed Pistorius as a gun-obsessed hothead.
They say he deliberately shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door, where she was taking refuge during a heated argument.
The defense says the shooting was an accident; that Pistorius thought there was an intruder in the house.
He was acting on "primal instincts", said lead defense attorney Barry Roux during closing arguments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BARRY ROUX, SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF REEVA STEENKAMP'S FAMILY LISTENING):
"He stands now with his finger ready to fire if necessary and he stands there and then..." (SLAMS HAND ON TABLE)
There is no jury