The State vs Oscar Pretorius (Murder 1)



Trial Day 13

Start 9:30 AM Wenesday (3-19-14)

9:00AM J/Burg ----> 3:00AM ET ----> 2:00AM CT ---->1:00AM MT ---->12:00AM PT
(Times amended to include US clocks moved one hour forward)





Links for Live Streaming

telegraph.co.uk: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... trial.html

wildabouttrial: http://www.wildabouttrial.com/one_off/o ... ve-stream/

channel24.co.za: http://www.channel24.co.za/TV/News/DStv ... d-20140228

mybroadband.co.za: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/ ... aming.html

Mirror.co.uk: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... es-3201648




Twitter

wildabouttrial: https://twitter.com/wildabouttrial

#pretorius https://twitter.com/search?q=%23pretorius&src=hash

Oscar Trial Channel: https://twitter.com/oscartrial199

Factual Updates https://twitter.com/OscarHardTruth

GeraldImrayAP: https://twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP



Live Blog

Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... es-3201648

Sky: http://news.sky.com/story/1225139/live- ... rder-trial

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/m ... rius-trial

telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -live.html

dailymaverick: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The Daily Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ay-3258726

6:49 am
Welcome to our live coverage of the trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius who is on trial for the alleged murder of model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Yesterday we heard from a ballistics expert in the South African Police Service that it was likely that Pistorius was on his stumps when he fired the fatal shots.

It was also suggested by his lawyer Barry Roux that police tampered with evidence saying that there was a chaotic and disorganised crime scene and items had been moved.

Pistorius once again broke down when Reeva's injuries were mentioned with three bullets hitting her and a fourth missing.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Late start again

I wonder if they are trying to find a supply of "Tannin patches" for Nel... so that he can at least keep going until the first tea break

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

All 4 dowels angled down from a low position to start with... no doubt OP was on his stumps (IMO)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

8:11 am
Mangena is describing "best and most probable explanations" that Reeva was standing upright behind the bathroom door and then after the first shot she slumped down and sustained two further gun shot wounds.

The shooter - Pistorius - was "most likely" not wearing his false legs and was shooting at the bathroom door from a distance further than 60cm.

8:06 am
Captain Mangena now being asked about another key question - whether he thinks Oscar Pistorius was on his stumps or his prosthetics when he opened fire.

He says it is probable that he was on his stumps.

This tallies with what we heard during yesterday's evidence.

7:58 am
This is important because it means ballistic expert Mangena has not ruled out Oscar Pistorius's version of events - that he was by entrance to bathroom, not close to door, when the shots were fired.

There's also nothing significant in the placement of the cartridges at the scene - says the witness.

7:55 am
Captain Mangena says Oscar Pistorius could have been anywhere from 3m away in the bathroom passage to within 60cms of the bathroom door when he pulled the trigger. He cannot be more specific.

7:49 am
The fourth shot penetrated Reeva's hand and through her head.

The bullet broke into two fragments, one penetrating the skull, the other exited the back of her head.

She dropped to her right hand side and ended up on top of the toilet seat.

7:45 am
If Reeva had fallen on the floor instead of a magazine rack she would not have been hit by the other bullets, Mangena said.

He believes she was in a defensive position. He shows the court how she might be sat with her hands covering her head.

He said that the way her clothes were damaged it suggested Reeva's arms were raised when the bullet penetrated her chest.

7:42 am
Mangena says Reeva was stood up, facing the door and not sat on the toilet when she was shot in the hip.

After the first shot, which broke her hip bone, she fell on top of a magazine rack, Mangena said.

The second bullet missed her and broke into fragments, ricocheted, and hit her back and causing bruises.

7:39 am
The trial is underway again with expert witness Captain Mangena taking to the stand.

Judge Masipa confirms that he is still under oath.

Nel is asking him about the bullet that entered Reeva's hip. Mangena says she was facing the door when the shot was fired.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I though he did great as witness... UNTIL.... Nel had to raise the issue of the restaurant and car roof.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

8:17 am
Barry Roux is asking Mangena about 'double taps'. He knocks four times on the desk in quick succession to illustrate his point.

Pistorius has claimed he fired in two short bursts.

Mangena disagrees.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Roux getting under Mangena's skin... and he is losing it

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

8:57 am
Captain Mangena, the state's ballistics witness has testified Reeva Steenkamp was hit in hip, and arm and shielding her head when hit in the skull.

Nel quotes the neighbour as hearing a shot, a pause, then three more shots.

Mangena says that it is possible that that version fits with the ballistics.

Roux wants one more question.

8:54 am
Roux says his experts will claim that Reeva's arm was close to the door when the first shot was fired.

Also that they will disagree with Captain Mangena's version of events.

Mangena says he won't change his theory and now it is time for state prosecutor Gerrie Nel to get back to his feet.

8:38 am
Mangena is keeping his head up here, batting back Roux's probes and telling the judge he doesn't understand the question at least three times.

Roux asks for a five minute adjournment as they consult with their own ballistics expert.

8:36 am
Roux is getting into his stride now.

He badgers the witness, then butters him up, saying he wants to "borrow from his expertise".

Roux says witnesses findings "consistent" with Pistorius's claim that he was standing by the bathroom door entrance. Yes, says witness.

So Roux ppounces, saying that at the earlier bail application, the police evidence was that Pistorius was 1.5m from door. "Where does that come from?" he wants to know.

"No idea", says Captain Mangena.

Roux suggests it was "made up" to push for premeditated murder charge at bail hearing.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Next witness... no tea break for Nel yet!!

hang on...... Nel asks for adjournment to get ready

The Daily Mirror are on to Nel.....

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Colonel Van Der Nest




9:24 am
Col Ian van der Nest, blood spatter expert, is on the stand. He has 20 years with police forensic lab.

Prosecution wants Nest to confirm its sequence of gunshots.

He was asked to check for any evidence of blunt force trauma - ie the cricket bat vs gun shot wounds. He was also asked to check for bloodspots around the house - probably to rule in or out any evidence of a fight between Reeva and Pistorius.

Nest's evidence will be crucial to the prosecution's case which is trying to establish premeditated murder.

He is talking about blood stains on the bannister but suggests they were from Reeva's body being carried downstairs, rather than anything more sinister.

Nest, who has covered 1,300 investigations, is graphically describing Reeva's "severe bleeding" and bloodsoaked hair and shorts.

Oscar Pistorius is taking notes.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Tea break Nel wants Tea mid explanation

For heavens sake... get on with it Nel... can surely wait 5 or 10 minutes for tea. He had a friggin break BEFORE this witness started!!!!

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Nel needs to go to the Chemist and get a box of "Tannorette"... he needs to put on a Tannin Patch and stop faffing about with tea breaks

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

People at daily Mirror fed up with nel too.....

9:26 am
Tea break KLAXON.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel calls for an interval and it is granted by Judge Masipa.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

10:09 am
Roux's briefest cross-examination yet.

But there's a reason.

He gets van der Nest to read and confirm a statement that Oscar Pistorius's version of events is consistent with evidence.

Roux lets that statement speak for itself and has no further questions.

The BBC's Andrew Harding believes that was an important moment
Quickest cross-examination yet by Roux. Nest, in one final answer, appears to have damaged prosecution's case.

9:59 am
Nest says the blood flow on the toilet seat is probably from her head, and the other pool of blood at the bottom of toilet is likely to be from continual bleeding of her arm.

He explains: "She must have received the wound somewhere in front of toilet lid."

9:56 am
Graphic images of the toilet and bathroom being shown in court. Gasps from some of those in the public gallery.

June Steenkamp had left earlier but has now returned. She has dealt admirably with previous detailed testimony.

Oscar has his head bowed, taking notes.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

No mention of blood spots in bedroom.... a red herring?

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Nel wants another break!!! Before next witness.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

10:12 am
Next up is Colonel Michael Sales, but court is adjourned for five minutes so he can set up his laptop (tea break).

He was one of three cellphone analysts who went to the USA with Pistorius’ iPhone to gain access to it.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

What a waste of time??

Testified to downloading History and bookmarks on two ipads?

Nothing of it worth reporting???


Mention of 3 ipads... no idea why he did not investigate that as well?

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Roux was not informed this witness would be testifying... wants a 5 min break as well


10:47 am
Roux points out that it cannot be proved who was accessing those iPads.

And that's it for the cross-examination.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light