Oscar Trial: Lerena ‘took the rap’ for gunshot
Oscar Pistorius's friend Darren Fresco took the blame for a shot the paralympic athlete allegedly fired in a restaurant, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Wednesday.
South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius sits quietly on his own after arriving at the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday, 4 March 2014. Pistorius stands trial for the 2nd day for the premeditated murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/Pool
“Mr Fresco said when he spoke to the restaurant owners that the gun caught on his pants. He did take the rap [blame],” professional boxer Kevin Lerena said during questioning by Barry Roux, for Pistorius.
Lerena testified before lunch that Pistorius asked Fresco to take the blame for the shot that went off. Pistorius had taken the gun from him under a table at Tasha’s restaurant in Johannesburg on Friday January 11 2013, around lunchtime.
Lerena, Pistorius, Fresco and British sprinter Martyn Rooney were sitting together at the time. The bullet went into the floor under the table, grazing Lerena’s toe.
The State will try to prove that Pistorius committed premeditated murder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp through the toilet door in his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
In addition he is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and recklessly discharging a firearm in public.
Pistorius contends he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he shot through the toilet door.
– Sapa
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