The first witness at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial told the court she heard bloodcurdling screams from a woman followed by shots, while Pistorius pleads not guilty in the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Jillian Kitchener reports.
The accused ... Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock on the second day of his trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa. Source: AP
LAWYERS for Paralympian Oscar Pistorius have for a second day grilled a key witness at his murder trial who claims to have heard screams, then shots, as his girlfriend was killed.
The second day of Pistorius's trial for the Valentine's Day killing of Reeva Steenkamp began with lawyer Barry Roux redoubling efforts to pick apart the prosecution's premier witness.
Neighbour Michelle Burger gave evidence on Monday that she heard "bloodcurdling'' screams at the home less than 200 metres from her own, before shots rang out in the early hours of February 14, 2013.
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The sequence of events, if accurate, would undermine the Paralympic gold medallist's claim that he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.
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Pistorius, 27, a double amputee known as the "Blade Runner'' for his carbon-fibre running blades, pleaded not guilty to murder and three unrelated gun charges on the opening day of the trial.
The face of a guilty man? Oscar Pistorius (centre), before court proceedings on the second day of his trial. Source: AFP
In a statement read out by his lawyer Kenny Oldwage, the sprinter described Steenkamp's death as a "tragic accident''.
While admitting killing the 29-year-old model and law graduate, he denied murderous intent.
"This allegation is denied in the strongest terms,'' he said.
"We were in a loving relationship.''
If found guilty of premeditated murder, Pistorius faces 25 years in South Africa's notoriously brutal jails and an abrupt end to his glittering sporting career.
Arriving at court today, a tired looking Pistorius — carrying an umbrella and a briefcase — immediately greeted his lawyer then shook the hand of a police officer.
When seated he began to pray.
Monday's proceedings were dominated by the duel between Roux and Burger — who is a construction economics lecturer at the University of Pretoria.
Burger, the first prosecution witness, said she and her husband were awaked at about 3am by "bloodcurdling screams'' coming from the Pistorius home in an up-market gated community of Pretoria.
"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help,'' Burger recalled.
Oscar's corner ... Aimee Pistorius (second left) sits with other family members as she attends the second day of the trial of her brother. Source: AFP
"It was something you can't explain to someone else, how anxious those screams were.''
"Just after her screams, I heard shots, four shots,'' she said, describing one clear shot then three clustered together.
"Bang ... bang, bang, bang.''
"I heard petrified screaming before the gunshots, and just after the gunshots,'' she said when pressed by Pistorius's lawyer.
Murder of girlfriend trial ... South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Lucky Nxumalo-Citypress) Source: AP
Roux grilled her over the number of shots she heard — and whether they were gunshots at all — suggesting that Burger's account contradicted that of her husband, who has yet to give evidence.
Roux also suggested she may have mistaken for shots the sound of Pistorius breaking the toilet door with a cricket bat after realising that Steenkamp was inside.
Roux also questioned Burger's claim that she heard the shouts of both a man and a woman.
"You know ... if Mr Pistorius is very anxious, if he screams it sounds like a woman's voice,'' Roux said.
Criminal law advocate Dave Smith, who is not linked to the case, told AFP that Burger "looks solid as a rock'' in the witness box.
"It's important to prove her wrong but I don't think he will,'' he said.
"I'm happy I'm not him.''
"She is firm that she heard screams, then gunshots and that they weren't the sound of a cricket bat. That says it all.''
As well as relentlessly picking holes in the testimony of state witnesses, the defence is also expected to call into question the reliability of the prosecution's forensics.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
Tough gig ... Barry Roux, legal representative for Oscar Pistorius, on the second day of the murder trial. Source: AFP
Pistorius murder trial interrupted
The second day of Oscar Pistorius' murder trial was dramatically interrupted today and the judge ordered an investigation into allegations that a South African television channel was broadcasting a photograph of a witness — against a court order guaranteeing privacy to witnesses who request it.
Judge Thokozile Masipa warned the media to respect the ruling that images of witnesses who request privacy should not be shown. Masipa called the revelation "very disturbing."
"An investigation is to follow to find out exactly what is happening. This may just be the tip of the iceberg," said Masipa.
The witness, Michelle Burger, lives close to Pistorius' house and says she heard a woman screaming on the night Pistorius killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, leading him to be charged with murder.
Nel said eNCA contacted the court clerk to ask if they could run a photograph of the witness that they had obtained from outside the court. The court said no, Nel said.
"They still went ahead and did it," the prosecutor said.
Nel said the outlet found the photo "somewhere else."
The development came less than 30 minutes into the day's proceedings when Nel interrupted Pistorius lawyer Barry Roux's cross-examination of Burger, saying he had just been informed that Burger's image was being shown on television.
The judge adjourned proceedings and Burger immediately left the room. When the judge returned after meeting with the two sides in her chambers, she ruled that there would be an investigation and instructed that no photographs may be shown in the media of any witness who requests privacy, regardless of the source.
"I am warning the media, if you do not behave, you are not going to be treated with soft gloves by this court," Judge Masipa said.
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