Oscar trial postponed
Oscar Pistorius's murder trial was postponed to Monday next week to allow the State to make final witness consultations, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.
FILE PICTURE: Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is seen during his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday, 17 March 2014. Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder, claiming that he believed there was an intruder hiding in a locked toilet cubicle in his home when he fired four shots into it, fatally wounding his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.Picture:Daniel Born/Pool
“It is a reasonable request which I cannot refuse,” said Masipa after prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked her for the postponement.
“We will use tomorrow and the long weekend for consultations,” said Nel making his submission.
“We have reached this juncture in the trial, My Lady, where the State is wrapping up our evidence and we are contemplating wrapping up our case,” he said.
The State intended calling about five more witnesses, he said.
Pistorius’s lawyer Barry Roux SC said he would have liked to have used all the court time available but did not object.
The paralympic athlete has been charged with the premeditated murder of Steenkamp and contravening the Firearms Control Act.
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 has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He said he thought there was an intruder in the house when he fired into the toilet, realising only afterwards it was Steenkamp.
– Sapa
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