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Oscar Pistorius threw up in court again after a picture of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s blood-covered body was accidentally shown to the court at his murder trial in Pretoria. As screens in court rapidly scrolled from a picture of Pistorius’s bathroom to another of the athlete’s blood-stained prosthetic legs, the Steenkamp’s body was shown for just a fraction of a second, prompting loud winces in court.
A series of photographs showing cartridge cases on the floor, the window open, a panel of the door smashed through, and large, deep puddles of blood, were presented in public for the first time.
One of the screens, just a few feet in front of Pistorius, was turned off shortly after he was sick so he would not have to see any more graphic images.
Colonel Schoombie Van Rensburg, one of the two officers to first arrive at the scene, told the court he saw Steenkamp’s body covered in towels and plastic bags used by Pistorius in a bid to stop the bleeding.
Pistorius was helped by the daughter of Silver Woods estate manager Johan Stander, Carise. She told police Pistorius had called them in need of help.
Col Van Rensburg said he found Pistorius in the kitchen and asked him what had happened. The athlete appeared to be in shock and did not respond.
“We then followed the trail of blood up the stairs,” Col Van Rensburg told Pretoria’s High Court.
The toilet’s key was inserted in to the outside of the door. This appears to contradict Pistorius’s bail statement where he claimed he found the key on the floor after smashing down the door with a cricket bat.
Earlier, Pistorius’s defence counsel Barry Roux challenged forensic analyst Lt Col Johannes Vermuelen, who claimed the athlete was standing on his stumps when he struck the door with a cricket bat in a bid to reach Steenkamp.
This contradicts Pistorius’s version of events, who claimed he was wearing his prosthetics legs at his bail application. Roux showed the court photographs of the blood-stained prosthetic legs, which he claims, were used by Pistorius to kick down the door.
Roux questioned the methods used by police and suggested the crime scene had been contaminated during the investigation. He said that Pistorius’s watch collection had disappeared and pieces of the door had gone missing.
The lawyer also noted that Lt Col Vermeulen had not read Pistorius’ version of events on the night Ms Steenkamp was shot until after he had completed his forensic study of the door, and was therefore relying on the prosecution’s version of what happened.
Today, Lt Col Vermeulen conceded there is no set timeline for the gunshots, Pistorius’s kicking and the cricket bat strikes — except for the athlete’s own version of events.
The door has been viewed as crucial evidence in the case, and was removed from the athlete’s home in the hours after he shot Steenkamp. The marks on the door could determine the angle and height from which Pistorius fired.
Last week, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to murdering Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder.
Prosecutors argue he intentionally shot and killed his girlfriend following a domestic dispute. If convicted of murder he will almost certainly receive a life sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years.
The case continues. — Sapa
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter