SOUTH AFRICA: Pistorius grilled
as the gruelling cross-examination of the
Paralympian moved into a second week.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Pistorius of
concocting evidence on the fourth day of his
defence against the charge of murdering Reeva
Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.
Nel said the 27-year-old argued with his
girlfriend shortly before shooting her dead.
"It's the state's case, Mr Pistorius, that she
wanted to leave and that you weren't sleeping,
you were both awake," said Nel.
"That's not correct my lady, that's untrue,"
Pistorius replied softly.
"There was an argument," Nel said, drawing
another denial.
Nel repeatedly described the athlete's
explanation that he accidentally shot
Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door
as "so improbable that it cannot be reasonably
possible".
The prosecutor's relentless questioning has
elicited tears and taut replies from the world-
famous double amputee, who insisted he and
the 29-year-old model were in a loving
relationship.
During the relentless back-and-forth Pistorius
and Nel at times appeared to come close to
bickering.
Nel complained that Pistorius was being
evasive and challenged him: "Today I pick up
you're not sure about things, is anything
wrong?" Nel asked. "You're fine?"
Pistorius grew increasingly restless, wiping
his face, pinching the bridge of his nose and
clenching his jaw.
He will likely remain on the stand for another
few days as a witness in his own defence.
Pistorius's lawyers have said they will call up
to 17 witnesses, including ballistics experts
after their client admitted he had shot
Steenkamp on February 14.
Originally due to last for three weeks, the trial
is in its sixth week and has been extended
until May 16.
Pistorius admitted to killing Steenkamp but
said it was an accident, firing his gun after
mistaking her for an intruder.
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