Oscar tells of his medication
Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius told the High Court in Pretoria on Monday that he struggled to get to sleep.
An emotional Oscar Pistorius is seen during his trial at the high court in Pretoria, Monday, 7 April 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentines Day in 2013. Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP/Pool
He said he was on medication for depression after he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day last year.
“I”m scared to sleep,” said Pistorius, his voice shaking, holding a white tissue.
“For several reasons. I have terrible nightmares about things that happened that night.
“I smell blood and I wake up to be terrified. I hear a noise, I wake up in just… in a complete state of terror…”
He said he was on the anti-depressant Cipralex and sleeping medication on the advice of family and friends after he lost a significant amount of weight.
“For many weeks I didn’t sleep.”
Earlier, he turned to Steenkamp’s family and apologised for shooting her.
“I would like to apologise and say there has been no moment since this tragedy happened that I haven’t thought about your family.”
He said about the night he shot her: “I was simply trying to protect Reeva.
Pistorius has been charged with the murder of Steenkamp and contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.
He said he thought there was an intruder in his house when he shot and killed Steenkamp.
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.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
– Sapa
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