Even as a South African columnist claims a “reliable source” told her that Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic athlete suspected of murdering his girlfriend, had taken acting lessons prior to his day in court, a spokesperson for the accused denied the allegations stating they are “totally devoid of any truth.”
Pistorius in court April 17, holding his ears at times to not hear details of the trial.
Pool photo by Alet Pretorius
Pistorius had emotional courtroom experience back in March on day six of the trial as the pathologist described the injuries of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The double-amputee wept uncontrollably, became ill, and even vomited during the testimony. A bucket was placed at his feet.
The journalist, Jani Allan, wrote: “I have it from a reliable source that you are taking acting lessons for your days in court. Your coach has an impossible task… Oscar, you are the latest in a long line of faux heroes.”
Pistorius, 27, is accused of shooting his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day in 2013 in what prosecutors say was a premeditated murder. Pistorius’ defense is he thought she was an intruder in his bathroom, and shot through the door four times, striking Streenkamp with all four shots.
During cross-examination, the South African athlete was accused of ‘tailoring evidence’ by not being clear if he had turned the security system on or off. When Pistorius claimed he “must have” turned off the security system, the prosecutor described that as a vague and conflicting response to which Pistorious stated he was tired.
I’ve made a mistake. I said I must have switched it off. I can’t be sure that I said ‘I can’ or ‘I did’ switch it off because I don’t have an independent recollection of switching it off. So I must have switched it off or it would have gone off.
“The defendant did himself more harm than good,” stated former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey. The legal expert also stated that the testimony held “inconsistencies and a lack of persuasiveness.”
The prosecutor Gerrie Nel is nicknamed “The Pitbull” and showed serious doubt on the Pistorious’ “out of control” and “self-pitying” actions in court. South African courts are not decided by juries but by judges, and he believes the judge will not be swayed by such displays.
The trial is expected to run another month.
