Pistorius takes call and chats to artist
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius briefly took a phone call and then spoke to a sketch artist at the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ahead of his murder trial.
Oscar Pistorius looks on just after arriving at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 3, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (Themba Hadebe, POOL)
The two casually shook hands before a brief interaction. Pistorius looked at ease on Tuesday, often looking back at the public gallery.
There was no sign of Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June who was there on day one of the trial.
Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, and contraventions under the Firearms Control Act, including possession of ammunition without a licence. He claims he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
The first witness, Michelle Burger, took the stand on Monday and testified that she heard a woman’s “blood-curdling” screams coming from his home on the night of the shooting. Cross-examination of Burger was due to continue on Tuesday at 9.30am.
The proceedings in the wood-panelled courtroom were broadcast live on television and radio, with the initial indictment listing 107 witnesses to testify for the State.
Judge Thokozile Masipa presided and swore in assessors Janet Henzen-du Toit and Themba Mazibuko.
– Sapa
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