Oscar Pistorius murder trial: Prosecutor ends five day grilling

 

Pretoria : The prosecution completed its cross examination of Oscar Pistorius on Tuesday, ending five emotional days of intense interrogation that raised serious doubts about the star Paralympian’s version of what happened on the night he shot dead his model girlfriend. “I have nothing further for this witness,” said prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel, after relentless questioning the athlete. Nel spent five days dragging Pistorius over the coals, accusing him of lying, tailoring evidence and crying to avoid tough questions.

 

Inconsistencies in Pistorius’s account, his sometimes evasive answers and sketchy memory of some details may have left his case in a weaker position than when he took the stand. Nel began the cross in shocking fashion, demanding Pistorius acknowedge that killing Steenkamp was more than a mere mistake. “You made a mistake? You killed a person, that’s what you did! You shot and killed her, won’t you take responsibility for that?” he thundered.