PISTORIUS TRIAL: A LOOK AT DRAMATIC 2ND DAY PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A witness cried and Oscar Pistorius arrived late for the afternoon session on a dramatic second day of the double-amputee Olympians murder trial. A look at the happenings Tuesday in and out of the high court in Pretoria: ___ WITNESS TEARS University lecturer Michelle Burger, the first witness called in the trial, was composed through almost all of her two-day testimony and cross-examination by defense lawyer Barry Roux. On Tuesday, she broke down in tears at the very end of her testimony when talking about how she can never forget the terrified screams on the night Pistorius killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Burger lives around 177 meters (580 feet) from Pistorius house. Im coping fine. Its been a year, she told prosecutor Gerrie Nel, though she also became emotional while remembering the fatal shooting of Steenkamp, using a tissue to wipe away tears. ___ PISTORIUS LATE Pistorius arrived a little late for the afternoon session and was not in his seat when the judge got back from lunch. Judge Thokozile Masipa immediately asked where he was, and defense lawyer Roux apologized and said sometimes hes blocked by the media. Pistorius entered the courtroom soon after. Hes been moving around the courthouse — and arriving and leaving the building — surrounded by police officers and private bodyguards as camera crews and photographers trail his every move. Wearing a dark suit and a blue tie, Pistorius made notes throughout the day, as he did Monday, and sometimes used a bright orange pen to highlight things on a notepad, appearing composed throughout. ___ FACE-TO-FACE WITH MUM Steenkamps mother, June, did not attend Tuesday after sitting through the first day of the trial dressed in black, but did give an interview on NBC in the United States. I dont want to live with bitterness, she told Savannah Guthrie on Today in her first live interview since the trial started. One must forgive. Ive lost everything thats important to me, and still, I can forgive. I can forgive. However, the mother of the woman Pistorius shot dead in his home also said in the interview that she had attended the opening day to look Pistorius in the eye — and wasnt able to. I wanted to see Oscar face-to-face, she said, and let him know I was there. But Pistorius never looked my way, or he didnt have an opportunity to do that, she said. June Steenkamp added it doesnt matter what happens to the man accused of murder, because her daughter is never coming back. ___ FIERY EXCHANGE In his cross-examination of Burger, Pistorius lawyer Roux raised his voice at one point trying to hammer home a point. Prosecutor Nel immediately objected, saying it was verging on badgering the witness, and the judge told Roux he had exhausted the line of questioning. The exchange that appeared to rile Roux was when Burger responded to a question about why Pistorius would shout for help before the gunshots, as she said she heard. Burger said she didnt know, but it might have been a ploy by Pistorius. Was it a mockery? I dont know, she said. ___ JUDGE ORDERS INVESTIGATION About 30 minutes into the days proceedings, the trial was interrupted when prosecutor Nel jumped up and said hed been informed that a South African television channel was broadcasting an image of witness Burger during her testimony, against media restrictions. A judge ruled last week that no private witnesses who testify in the trial can be shown, though experts and police officers can. The TV channel was allegedly using a picture of Burger from her work website, which the judge ruled also wasnt allowed. Judge Masipa warned reporters and ordered an investigation.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 18:00:03 +0000
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