Nel seeks postponement
A request to postpone the trial of murder-accused Oscar Pistorius was submitted in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel cross-examines paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius during his murder trial at the high court in Pretoria, Monday, 14 April 2014. Pistorius stands trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA/Pool
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said, among other things, his colleague had another matter to attend to.
“There comes a time… and this is it, where the diary becomes clogged up,” said Nel.
He also indicated that with the Easter long-weekend approaching, they had made personal arrangements which they would like to attend to.
Nel said he had the defence’s support in the matter.
He requested that the trial be postponed sometime later this week and resume on May 5.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said she would consider the application and possibly give a ruling on Wednesday.
As Nel continued with his cross-examination of the “Blade Runner”, he indicated he would most likely conclude it on Tuesday.
Pistorius, who has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been in the witness box since last Monday.
He shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year.
He claims to have mistaken her for an intruder.
Steenkamp’s mother, June, was not present in court when proceedings resumed at 9.30am on Tuesday.
Pistorius’s siblings Aimee and Carl were also not in court.
– Sapa
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