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March 11, 2014

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Pistorius vomits at autopsy details

Track star Oscar Pistorius, on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, wept and vomited into a bucket in a South African courtroom yesterday, after hearing graphic details from her autopsy.

Pathologist Gert Saayman was interrupted several times by the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete’s sobbing and retching but the defence team argued against an adjournment, saying a break would not improve his state of mind.

Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa imposed a broadcast blackout on Saayman’s testimony out of respect for Steenkamp’s family and to prevent children from accidentally hearing its contents.

“Broadcast would compromise the privacy of the deceased, hurt the interests of the Steenkamps and be against the morals of society,” Saayam said when he asked for a temporary blackout of a trial so far shown in its entirety on live television.

Pistorius, nicknamed “Bladerunner” for the prosthetics he wears in competition, admits he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and law graduate.

He argues that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity and that he thought she was an intruder who had broken in to his Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14 last year.

Saayman said that Steenkamp was hit in the head, arm and hip by three shots fired through a locked toilet cubicle door. A fourth round missed.

The pathologist said Pistorius used bullets designed to disintegrate on impact with tissue, causing maximum damage.

No blood was found in Steenkamp’s airways, suggesting she breathed only a few times before dying.

If found guilty, Pistorius faces at least 25 years behind bars.


 

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