Advertisement

Pistorius stumbles over answers during cross-examination

Yahoo Sports
  • Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
    1/8

    Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
  • Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
    2/8

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
  • An overall view of the court as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, Pool)
    3/8

    An overall view of the court as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, Pool)

    An overall view of the court as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, Pool)
  • Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee (R) listens as Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
    4/8

    Aimee listens as Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria

    Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee (R) listens as Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
    REUTERS
  • June Steenkamp (L), mother of Reeva Steenkamp, watches with family friends as Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
    5/8

    June, mother of Reeva Steenkamp, watches with family friends as Oscar Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria

    June Steenkamp (L), mother of Reeva Steenkamp, watches with family friends as Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
    REUTERS
  • State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, questions Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Craig Nieuwenhuizen, Pool)
    6/8

    State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, questions Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Craig Nieuwenhuizen, Pool)

    State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, questions Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Craig Nieuwenhuizen, Pool)
  • June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, listens as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, April 10, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Werner Beukes, Pool)
    7/8

    June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, listens as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, April 10, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Werner Beukes, Pool)

    June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, listens as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, April 10, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Werner Beukes, Pool)
  • Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
    8/8

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
An overall view of the court as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, Pool)
Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee (R) listens as Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
June Steenkamp (L), mother of Reeva Steenkamp, watches with family friends as Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius speaks in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. REUTERS/Themba Hadebe/Pool (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CRIME LAW)
State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, questions Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Craig Nieuwenhuizen, Pool)
June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, listens as state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions Oscar Pistorius, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, April 10, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Werner Beukes, Pool)
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, April 11, 2014. The chief prosecutor laughed scornfully at an answer from Pistorius during the Olympic athlete's murder trial Thursday, mocking the man who shot his girlfriend. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

The Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, on trial for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year, appeared exhausted.

Visibly strained under a third day of cross-examination by Nel, he stumbled over his answers, correcting himself time and again as the "bull terrier" prosecutor relentlessly pursued minute details of his account.
— Nastasya Tay