Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is seen with a family member at the high court in Pretoria on Monday, 7 April 2014. The athlete is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp whom he shot dead through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. He claims he mistook her for an intruder. Picture: Deaan Vivier/Media24/Pool
After taking the stand around noon in the High Court in Pretoria, his lawyer Barry Roux, SC, told the court about 30 minutes following a lunch-break: “You can see he is very exhausted.”
He asked Judge Thokozile Masipa if court might adjourn 20 minutes early, to resume on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said: “Well, My Lady, I would like us to finalise the case. We have to get somewhere, I hope it is not a daily occurrence.”
Masipa told Nel that Pistorius looked exhausted and granted the adjournment.
Pistorius’s family surrounded him in the witness stand once Masipa and her assessors left.
Pistorius shot Steenkamp through the locked toilet door of his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
He says he mistook her for an intruder. He has pleaded not guilty and in his plea statement denied he had argued with her shortly before the shooting.
He also faces two charges related to contravening the Firearms Control Act, to which he has denied guilt. Steenkamp’s mother June was present in court with other family members and friends.
– Sapa
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