Pistorius: ‘I smell Reeva’s blood’

Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius is expected to take the stand in his murder trial of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Devon Maylie looks ahead on what to expect from Pistorius. Photo: AP

AN emotional Oscar Pistorius began testifying in his murder trial with an apology to the family of Reeva Steenkamp, the girlfriend he killed last year in his home.

Fighting his tears, he firstly apologised to the Steenkamp family for killing Reeva.

Stammering and with his jaw trembling, Pistorius began his testimony tonight by saying Steenkamp "felt love" before he shot her dead in what prosecutors say was premeditated murder and he says was an accident.

"There hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family. I wake up every morning and you are the first people I think of," he told the Pretoria court. "I can't imagine the pain and emptiness I caused you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Reeva. When she went to bed that night she felt loved." Pistorius told the court he had been on anti-depressants and sedatives since killing Reeva and that he is "scared to sleep".

Questions ... Oscar Pistorius is expected to take the stand tonight in his murder trial.

"I have terrible nightmares about things that happened that night, where I wake up and I can smell blood," he said.

Oscar Pistorius weeps as he listens to evidence by a pathologist in court in Pretoria, South Africa. Source: AP

Earlier the murder trial of Pistorius was told of the horrific injuries inflicted upon Steenkamp, with a pathologist describing her arm wound as "almost akin to that of an amputation".

The Paralympian slumped forward in his seat and appeared to be retching as Professor Jan Botha described the effects of the gunshots on Steenkamp.

"Shots could have been discharged in the space of four seconds," Botha told the court. "I think it's highly unlikely she would have been able to call out."

"Before she was in a position to react, the remaining bullets would have struck her," Botha said as Pistorius sobbed into his hands.

Pistorius bent down in the dock plugging his ears with his fingers as Botha's evidence about Steenkamp's cause of death contradicted the state's account.

Steenkamp was first shot in the hip, then in the arm. The third bullet hit her hand and the fourth hit her head, Botha said.

The state has already alleged that Steenkamp was first shot in the hip, that the second bullet missed, the third bullet hit her arm, and the fourth went through her hand and head.

The murder trial resumed in Pretoria to a packed courtroom around 5pm AEDT.

If convicted, the Olympic athlete could be going to prison for 25 years to life.

Pistorius' account that he killed Steenkamp by mistake is going to "stand or fall'' with his testimony in court, a legal expert says.

Unable to hear the evidence ... Oscar Pistorius is charged with murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Source: AP

Charged with premeditated murder for Steenkamp's death, Pistorius and his defence team say he will testify to counter accusations that he intentionally killed Steenkamp by firing four times through the door in his bathroom before dawn on Valentine's Day last year, hitting her in the head, arm and hip.

Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for a dangerous intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle.

South Africa has no trial by jury, meaning Judge Thokozile Masipa will pronounce Pistorius guilty or not guilty of murder, and Pistorius has the chance to convince her that he did not intentionally kill the 29-year-old model.

Tragic ... Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder. Source: AP

But Pistorius' testimony also gives prosecutors the chance to cross-examine the celebrated double-amputee runner and scrutinise every aspect of his story.

Facing a possible life sentence, his questioning by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel could be the biggest challenge yet for the 27-year-old Pistorius, a disabled athlete who fought for years to win the right to compete alongside able-bodied runners and made history by running at the 2012 Olympics.

Brian Webber, one of Pistorius' lawyers, said they had no choice but to put Pistorius on the stand. Legal experts say it's a risk Pistorius' defence has to take. In a rare comment after the prosecution closed its case, Pistorius said ``we have a lot ahead of us.''

Support ... Oscar Pistorius hugs his aunt Lois Pistorius after the prosecution closed its case. Source: AP

Pistorius often reacted emotionally to details of Steenkamp's death in the four weeks of prosecution-led testimony at his trial. He retched loudly and vomited in court when a pathologist described Steenkamp's grisly injuries and cried and frequently covered his ears while sitting in the dock in an apparent attempt to block out graphic testimony.

During his own testimony, he will have to describe in depth his fatal shooting of Steenkamp.

"He can't ignore it,'' Marius du Toit, a criminal defence lawyer and former state prosecutor in South Africa who is observing the trial, said of Pistorius testifying. "He has to get into the box and confirm his version and be open to cross-examination. And this matter is going to stand or fall with that.''

Cannot stand what he hears ... Oscar Pistorius reacts as he listens to evidence about how his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp died. Source: AP

Defendants in South Africa have the right to remain silent but because he has admitted killing Steenkamp, Pistorius is under pressure to tell the court why he decided to shoot through the door with his 9mm pistol without knowing — in his version — who was on the other side.

Prosecutors charge that Pistorius murdered Steenkamp after a fight and he must dispel their accusations that he intentionally shot her as she hid behind the locked door, legal experts say.

Pistorius likely won't be the first witness the defence calls on Monday, but he should take the stand straight after pathologist Prof. Jan Botha gives evidence.

Pistorius has not yet spoken publicly about the shooting, only giving his side in a written statement at his bail hearing a year ago and in court documents presented at the start of the trial last month. In those statements, Pistorius claims to have been in a loving relationship with Steenkamp but, in fear for his life, he shot at what he thought was an intruder after hearing a window being opened in his bathroom and then a noise inside the cubicle.

Even if he is acquitted of murder, Pistorius faces a negligent killing conviction which can carry a five-year prison sentence. His testimony must show that he acted reasonably when he shot four times from close range.

"A reasonable man most probably would not have fired four shots through the door,'' lawyer and observer du Toit said. "His actions were definitely not reasonable and I think that's his biggest problem.''

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