Pistorius Defense to Address Pivotal Elements

(ATR) Pistorius' lawyers will address key elements of the prosecution's case when the Olympian takes the stand on Friday.

Guardar
Lawyer Barry Roux (L) speaks with his client, South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, during a tea break on the fifth day of his trial for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the high court in Pretoria, on March 7, 2014. Pistorius faces two charges ; murder and contravention of the Firearms Control Act. Pistorius, a double amputee known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre running blades, faces 25 years in South Africa's brutal jails and an abrupt end to his glittering sporting career if convicted.  AFP PHOTO / POOL / THEANA BREUGEM        (Photo credit should read Theana Breugem/AFP/Getty Images)
Lawyer Barry Roux (L) speaks with his client, South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, during a tea break on the fifth day of his trial for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the high court in Pretoria, on March 7, 2014. Pistorius faces two charges ; murder and contravention of the Firearms Control Act. Pistorius, a double amputee known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre running blades, faces 25 years in South Africa's brutal jails and an abrupt end to his glittering sporting career if convicted. AFP PHOTO / POOL / THEANA BREUGEM (Photo credit should read Theana Breugem/AFP/Getty Images)

The defense team for Oscar Pistorius will address key elements of the prosecution's case when the Olympian takes the stand on Friday.

Pistorius' lawyers will tackle elements such as testimony from four neighbors who said they heard a woman's screams coming from the Paralympian's home the night he shot Reeva Steenkamp.

Attorney Anton Smith toldABC News reporter Liezl Thom the defense will also focus on "the ballistics, Pistorius' knowledge of South African gun laws, and the pathologist's report."

Thompredicts Pistorius' testimony could last days.

Globe and Mail reporter Geoffrey York saysPistorius will address his "pattern of recklessness with guns, his decision to shoot without asking questions," and arguments with Steenkamp prior to Valentine's Day of 2013.

On Monday,police captain Francis Moller read out downloaded texts to the Pretoria High Court that revealedSteenkamp feared the Olympian's short temper and jealous nature.

Despite the troubling texts exchanged prior to the night Pistorius shot Steenkamp,Moller testified that 90 percent of the 1,709 messages between them were "normal and loving."

Pistorius is charged with the premeditated murder of his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day of 2013.The Olympian says he thought she was an intruder in his Johannesburg home.

On March 3, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing.If convicted, Pistorius faces 25 years in jail.

Judicial officials predict the trial will conclude on May 16 with a recess in April.

Written byNicole Bennett

For general comments or questions,click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.

Últimas Noticias

Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons

Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.

Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons

Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024

She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.

Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024

Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris

Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.

Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris

Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years

The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.

Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years

Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”

The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.

Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”