Oscar Pistorius told his murder trial Monday that he had no explanation for there still being food in slain girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's stomach despite his testimony that they ate eight hours before the fatal shooting.
The double-amputee Olympian made the comments during another day of intense cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who has been trying to pick holes in Pistorius' defense since last week. Pistorius, 27, is accused of premeditated murder but insists that he killed the model and law graduate after mistaking her for an intruder.
The sprinter said he and Steenkamp ate after 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 last year. Early the following morning, Pistorius fired four hollow-point bullets through a bathroom door at his luxury home. Steenkamp died almost immediately.
Nel said expert evidence showed Steenkamp's stomach should have been empty by the time she was killed.
"I put it to you that she must have eaten two hours bef ore her death," Nel said. He asked Pistorius if he had any explanation for this.
"I cannot comment on this because I don't have an explanation for it," he said.
Nel also questioned the athlete on the placement of Steenkamp's clothes in the bedroom. The prosecutor alleged that her jeans and flip-flops were out of place because the pair had an argument and she wanted to leave.
"The denims are inside out," Pistorius answered. "So it would make sense that is when she took them off."
The trial continues.
- Alexander Smith
First published April 14 2014, 1:30 AM
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