Oscar Pistorius Prosecutors Ignore Leaked Video
PRETORIA, South Africa — -- Oscar Pistorius' prosecutors said today they "have nothing to do" with a leaked video showing him reenacting the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, indicating they do not intend to extend the trial to introduce the video as evidence.
Pistorius' attorney told the court today that they are about to bring their defense to a conclusion, but asked the judge for one more day.
"It is prima facie that we plan to close our case, but I'd like to request that we stand down until tomorrow so that I can consult and receive instructions from those around me," defense lawyer Barry Roux told the High Court in Pretoria.
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Pistorius, 27, is accused of murdering his lover in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. He claims he mistook her for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked bathroom door.
Pistorius' lawyers asked to consult with a state appointed psychiatrist, one of a panel of three which assessed the athlete's mental state during a court ordered 30 day psychiatric evaluation, but Judge Thokozile Masipa turned down the request, prompting Roux to asks for the adjournment.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nell did not mention the re-enactment video in which Pistorius can be seen running and walking backwards on his stumps. The video, created by an American company for the Pistorius legal team, aired in Australia Sunday. In the video, which has not been shown in court, Pistorius has his right hand outstretched as if holding a gun. He also carries a women out of the cramped bathroom, reenacting how he pulled Steeenkamp out of the room after shooting her.
During the trial, Pistorius' legal team has contended that being on his stumps made the paralympian sprinter known as the Blade Runner feel vulnerable to a possible intruder because he allegedly has limited mobility and balance without his prosthetics.
The National Prosecuting Authority, Nel's employer, says it has not seen the video and that Nel hasn't seen the footage.
"We have no comment... and have nothing to do with the video," NPA spokesman Nathi Mncube said.
