Source: Getty / Herman Verwey In early March, Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp a year ago, and the defense phase of the trial kicked off on Monday. Oscar took the opportunity to apologize to Steenkamp's family, and he also opened up about his childhood, the reason he fired the gun, and more. Meanwhile, testimonies from neighbors, one of Oscar's exes, a security guard, and a ballistics expert have also shed light on Oscar's case. Commonly referred to as the "blade runner" because of his prosthetic legs, the South African quickly became an Olympic idol thanks to six Paralympic gold medals and his ability to compete with able-bodied athletes. Last year, though, that heroic image took a turn, because Oscar admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013. If he's convicted of premeditated murder, Oscar will face South Africa's mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 25 years.
- 4/7/2014
- by Laura Marie Meyers
- Popsugar.com
It was a rough week for Oscar Pistorius. Sometimes sobbing, other times covering his ears, the former Olympian sat in court as witness after witness testified about the night that he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Neighbors and paramedics described his anguished behavior on the night of Feb. 14, 2013, as Steenkamp lay dying of multiple gunshot wounds. But even worse for Pistorius was testimony that painted him as irritable, short-tempered and obsessed with firearms. While his defense attorney tried to mitigate the damage, it was clear that the man known as Blade Runner faces an uphill battle in court. Gunshots...
- 3/9/2014
- by Steve Helling
- PEOPLE.com
Capturing the world's attention, the first day of testimony in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial took place in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday (March 3).
Before hearing from the first witness, the double amputee athlete pleaded not guilty to murder and some weapons-related charges.
Last year, the former Olympian shot his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in his residence. According to the Blade Runner, he thought she was a home intruder.
In the courtroom, witness Michelle Burger testified that she heard a woman screaming and a man yelling for help, saying, "Something terrible was happening at that house. Her shouts, her screams were petrifying." The trial is expected to last for weeks.
Before hearing from the first witness, the double amputee athlete pleaded not guilty to murder and some weapons-related charges.
Last year, the former Olympian shot his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in his residence. According to the Blade Runner, he thought she was a home intruder.
In the courtroom, witness Michelle Burger testified that she heard a woman screaming and a man yelling for help, saying, "Something terrible was happening at that house. Her shouts, her screams were petrifying." The trial is expected to last for weeks.
- 3/4/2014
- GossipCenter
var brightcovevideoid = '3286960374001'; With gripping testimony about a "blood-curdling" scream, the Oscar Pistorius murder trial started Monday in a South African court where the double-amputee Olympian stands accused of fatally shooting his model-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty and claims he fired four times through a bathroom door in February 2013 in the mistaken belief he was shooting at an intruder. The trial - a sensation in his home country, which has held the Olympian as a hero - already has offered several highlights, surprises and unusual moments: A Mother's StareReeva's mother June Steenkamp stared at Pistorius for...
- 3/3/2014
- PEOPLE.com
The first witness in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial testified Monday to hearing "blood-curdling" screams before the sound of four gunshots on the night the double-amputee Olympian killed his girlfriend. Michelle Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius's gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp by mistakenly thinking she was a dangerous intruder in his house, but prosecutors believe the world-famous athlete shot his girlfriend...
- 3/3/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Double-amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed the Blade Runner, pled not guilty on Monday, the first day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Oscar Pistorius Trial Update
In addition to being charged with the premeditated murder of Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV star, Pistorius is also facing two unrelated gun charges for incidents in 2012. On the first day of the trial in South Africa, Pistorius issued his plea and testimony was heard from a witness for the prosecution.
Neighbor Testifies She Heard Screams, Gunshots
Michelle Burger, a woman who lives roughly 200 yards from Pistorius’ home in Pretoria, South Africa, took to the witness stand on Monday to give her account of events on Feb. 14, 2013. Burger claims that she heard screams from a woman, followed by gunshots. She also alleges she heard a second, male voice, screaming for help.
"It was very traumatic,...
Oscar Pistorius Trial Update
In addition to being charged with the premeditated murder of Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV star, Pistorius is also facing two unrelated gun charges for incidents in 2012. On the first day of the trial in South Africa, Pistorius issued his plea and testimony was heard from a witness for the prosecution.
Neighbor Testifies She Heard Screams, Gunshots
Michelle Burger, a woman who lives roughly 200 yards from Pistorius’ home in Pretoria, South Africa, took to the witness stand on Monday to give her account of events on Feb. 14, 2013. Burger claims that she heard screams from a woman, followed by gunshots. She also alleges she heard a second, male voice, screaming for help.
"It was very traumatic,...
- 3/3/2014
- Uinterview
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