Oscar Pistorious Case Update: Arm Wound A Focus In Defense Team’s Case As Witness Describes Former Olympian’s ‘Grief’ After Shooting? [VIDEO]
As the trial of former Olympian Oscar Pistorious continues, new evidence being presented by the defense appears to be proving the athlete may not have intentionally shot his girlfriend to death.
Oscar Pistorious Taking Acting Lessons For Trial?
According to USA Today, a ballistics expert for the defense testified May 8 that a bullet wound Reeva Steenkamp sustained in her arm is consistent with one she would have received from reaching towards the bathroom door during the shooting, a direct contrast to what a police ballistics expert previously testified.
Wollie Wolmarans testified that his reconstructions of the Feb. 14, 2013 shooting showed that the pattern of wood splinter marks on Steenkamp's arm indicated her arm had been between six and 20 centimeters from the wood toilet door when the bullet entered her. Police experts earlier claimed that her wound was inflicted at a further distance from the door, as she fell in the cubicle and tried to shield her head by covering it with her arms.
The defense believes the testimony from their expert proves Steenkamp had been trying to open the cubicle door when she was hit, instead of crouching and hiding in fear, as the prosecution has asserted.
The ballistics testimony comes two days after a social worker who spoke with Pistorious in the hours after Steenkamp's shooting testified that he had been full of grief over the incident was worried about Steenkamp's parents as they learned of their daughter's death.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Yvette van Schalkwyk testified that Pistorious had been clearly upset by the incident, crying the bulk of the time he spoke to her and vomiting twice. She also rejected claims he had taken acting lessons to appear convincing at his trial, saying she was shocked anyone would claim his grief had not been sincere.
"From the first second I saw man who was heartbroken about the loss, he cried, he was in mourning," she said. "He suffered emotionally. He loved her.
"What I saw was a heartbroken man. I was there for emotional support. I didn't look for remorse," she added later. "He said he missed Reeva so much. Those were his first words. He said he was barely coping."
