Oscar Pistorius .Not Guilty of Murder

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Pistorius: Five Key Moments Of The Trial

For six months the world has been gripped by the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. Here are five key moments from the court case...

:: Tears, wailing and vomit
Pistorius' voice often trembled and he frequently broke down in tears. During evidence he sometimes held his head in his hands - and has even been seen putting his fingers in his ears. When details of Reeva Steenkamp's injuries were revealed, he sobbed, retched and vomited into a bucket. Judge Masipa had to decide whether the defendant was crying over Reeva, or for himself.

:: Cricket Bat Or Gunshots?
Neighbours heard screams before they heard four gunshots the night Ms Steenkamp was killed. The prosecution claimed these screams were Ms Steenkamp's, calling for help before she was shot dead. The defence insisted the screams were from Pistorius after he realised he had shot his girlfriend and not an intruder. They also said the 'gunshots' were the defendant breaking down the door with a cricket bat. He claimed he was not wearing his prosthetic legs at the time he shot Ms Steenkamp and when he realised his mistake he rushed to put them on before bashing down the door. But a forensic expert reconstructed the event in court and claimed the height of the marks on the door were consistent with Pistorius still being on his stumps when he swung the bat.

:: The Shooting Range
Sky News uncovered exclusive video of Pistorius at a shooting range , firing the gun he used when he shot Ms Steenkamp. In the footage, he shoots watermelons - someone who sounds like him is heard saying: "It's not as soft as brains but f*** it is a zombie stopper." When the video was played in court, chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel told Pistorius to look at pictures of Ms Steenkamp's injuries, leading to gasps in court as they were shown on screen. Addressing Pistorius, Mr Nel said: "You saw how the bullet made the watermelon explode. You know the same thing happened to Reeva's head," adding the athlete had to "take responsibility" for killing his girlfriend.

:: Psychiatric Evaluation
The trial was dramatically adjourned following concerns about Pistorius' mental health after a psychiatrist revealed he suffered from an anxiety disorder. Judge Thokozile Masipa agreed to the athlete undergoing an independent psychiatric evaluation after it was requested by Mr Nel. Calling for the evaluation was seen as a tactical gamble by Mr Nel, who hoped the outcome would support his case. An expert panel assessed whether Pistorius' disorder may have played a part in his actions but they concluded he was not mentally ill and the trial could resume. Reading from the psychologists report, Mr Nel said: "Mr Pistorus did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged. The results of the month-long assessment could play a part in Judge Masipa's sentencing if he is found guilty.

:: Reeva's Family
The cut and thrust of the hearing has almost overshadowed the woman at the centre of the trial. A mistake by the prosecution led to gruesome pictures of Ms Steenkamp's corpse being flashed up on screen for everyone to see. The pictures were shocking for the court and devastating for her friends and family. Gasps were heard from the public gallery and several of Ms Steenkamp's friends fled in tears.


Benny asks just this one question ...
How can someone get off 4 (yes four) head shots into an area on a person that is less than 18 inches by 18 inches and not realised who they were shooting at ?