Oscar Pistorius’ defence lawyer said yesterday that the “cold facts” did not prove the star sprinter had intended to kill his model girlfriend, as he launched a final bid to save the “Blade Runner” from life in prison.
In his closing argument, defense lawyer Barry Roux sought to pick apart the prosecution’s case that his famous client had murdered 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp after an argument in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year.
Roux accused the state of ignoring evidence from Pistorius’ upmarket Pretoria home that did not support its “circumstantial” case, a day after the prosecution painted the athlete as a liar.
“The failure of the state to present that evidence leaves one big question mark,” Roux said. “That’s the failure of the state’s case.”
He argued that evidence suggested Pistorius should never have faced murder charges, but rather the trial should have begun with a lesser charge of culpable homicide.
On Thursday, Pistorius was branded a “deceitful” witness by prosecutor Gerrie Nel in the prosecution’s final arguments.
Pistorius’ efforts to concoct an alibi had led to a “snowball effect” of lies requiring more lies to back them up, Nel said.
The athlete says he killed Steenkamp by firing four shots through a locked toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder.
The prosecution argues that he deliberately killed her after an argument.
“In an attempt to tailor his version to support his plea explanation, he tangled himself in a web,” Nel said.
Summing up the state’s meticulous 200 page review of evidence gleaned from almost 40 witnesses, Nel said Pistorius, 27, was guilty of “a baker’s dozen” of misleading statements.
Nel addressed the court for most of the day on Thursday before the defense had a brief opportunity to outline its counter-arguments.
Pistorius faces 25 years in prison if he is convicted of premeditated murder.
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