Ballistics analyst testifies – Oscar Trial

Barry Roux SC and Captain Chris Mangena had a rapid fire exchange starting with Mangena’s finding that Steenkamp fell on to a magazine rack when the first shot through a toilet door at his Pretoria home hit her in the right hip.

Roux said in the High Court in Pretoria this finding was inconsistent with tests the defence had conducted, but Mangena stood his ground.

He conceded that a specific test of the magazine rack had not been conducted, but based on his other ballistic findings in the case and his 19 years’ experience in ballistics he did not accept Roux’s version.

He had also not done specific tests on the spread of splinters found on Steenkamp’s arm after the bullet went through the door to support his finding that she had her arm in a defensive position in front of her.

Mangena did not feel this additional test was necessary as his other analysis supported his findings.

Pistorius has already admitted that he shot Steenkamp, saying during his bail application he thought there was an intruder when he fired four shots through the toilet door. He only realised afterwards that it was Steenkamp.

Mangena was asked if he would conduct these tests now and he turned down the invitation.

The paralympic athlete has been charged with the premeditated murder of Steenkamp and contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.He allegedly fired a shot from a Glock pistol under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in January 2013.

On September 30, 2012 he allegedly shot through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friends in Modderfontein.

– Sapa