Oscar’s apology questioned

“The word ‘I’m sorry I killed her’ is not there,” said Nel.

Pistorius then told Nel that he was sorry for causing sorrow for the family and for taking the life of their daughter.

Nel demanded to know why he had not apologised privately, choosing instead to make them listen to it in a full court room with proceedings being televised globally.

“You didn’t think how they would feel sitting in a public court,” asked Nel.

“I’m not sure it was appropriate My Lady, but that’s what I thought that was best,” said Pistorius.

He added: “I don’t think they would ever want to meet me. I completely understand where they are coming from.”

Nel’s theme was that in their short relationship, all attention was on Pistorius’s needs as an international gold medal winning paralympic and Olympic athlete.

“Life is just about you, what’s important to Oscar,” said Nel.

Pistorius shot Steenkamp dead in his toilet at his house in Pretoria.

He has denied that he murdered her, saying he thought there was an intruder when he fired four shots through the toilet door.

– Sapa