Roux examines neighbours evidence

In his closing arguments, Barry Roux SC, focused on the statements and testimonies of several State witnesses who were neighbours of Pistorius.

Roux referred to the evidence of Dr Johan Stipp and said he was “desperate to help the State”.

In his statement to police, Stipp had simply said he had heard the screams of a woman coming from a neighbour’s house.

However, in the witness box he had added that the screams were fearful and emotional.

Roux queried why this was left out of his initial statement.

“His evidence was inconsistent with the other witnesses,” said Roux. The court could not rely on his evidence.

Roux said Stipp’s recollection of the sequence of events differed from that provided by other people who were on the scene.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

He shot her through the locked door of his toilet at his Pretoria home.

Pistorius has denied guilt, saying he thought she was an intruder about to open the door and attack him. The State contends he shot her during an argument and it was premeditated.

Pistorius is also charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public. He has also pleaded not guilty to these charges.

– Sapa