Defence did Decibel test on Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius's defence lawyer intends proving to the High Court in Pretoria that the accused screams like a woman when he is anxious.
Oscar Pistorius is seen during his court appearance on Wednesday, 5 March 2014. The double amputee and Paralympian is appearing in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius is accused of the murder of model Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. Picture: Alon Skuy/Pool
“I put to you that it does. Decibel tests were done,” said Barry Roux, SC, as he cross-examined radiologist Johan Stipp on Thursday.
Stipp said he heard a woman’s screams from the direction of Pistorius’s home at the Silver Woods estate in Pretoria.
Pistorius is charged with murder, with the State attempting to prove his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was killed in an argument when he shot her in a bathroom early on February 14 2013.
Earlier, Spitt said that when he arrived at the house after the shooting, he saw Pistorius kneeling next to her. Pistorius then said he shot her through the toilet door, thinking she was a burglar.
Roux said it was not possible for Steenkamp to scream after Pistorius shot her because of the severe brain damage and other injuries she sustained.
There were even splinters from the door in her body.
“I don’t want to go in graphic details about what you observed… it was a terribly serious, devastating head wound.”
Roux said he consulted three medical specialists and they all said she would not have been able to scream in that state.
He said the defence intended proving the pitch of Pistorius’s screams to the court.
– Sapa
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