Oscar Pistorius trial continues

It would mark the paralympian’s seventh day in the witness stand.

On Monday, Nel accused Pistorius of faking emotional distress before the court.

He contended this was happening because Pistorius knew his version of why he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp did not hold water.

As the disabled Olympic athlete broke down under cross-examination, Nel asked point-blank: “Mr Pistorius you are not using your emotional state as an escape, are you?”

Pistorius, who possibly faces a life sentence for premeditated murder, protested that he had become emotional because he was recalling a traumatic event.

On his fourth day of facing questions from Nel, Pistorius insisted he had not intended to fire his 9mm pistol when he sent four shots into a locked toilet door in his house on Valentine’s Day last year, fatally wounding the 29-year-old Steenkamp.

Pistorius said his arm had not been extended, but bent when he pulled the trigger, adding: “I didn’t intend to fire, but I fired. I fired my firearm out of fear, by accident.”

– Sapa