Reeva Steenkamp ‘in defensive position’ when shot
The trial of Oscar Pistorius hears that Reeva Steenkamp was covering her head with her hands after the first bullet hit her hip – and that the athlete had browsed porn sites hours before.
On the thirteenth day of the trial, ballistics expert Christian Mangena of the South African police told the court that of all four bullets fired had pierced the bathroom door.
Captain Mangena said the first bullet hit Reeva Steenkamp as she stood facing the bathroom door. It penetrated her hip, breaking the bone and causing her to fall down into a seated position on top of a magazine rack in the bathroom.
The second bullet missed Ms Steenkamp, hit the wall, ricocheted onto another wall and broke into fragments, which hit her in the back, causing bruising.
Another significant piece of evidence from Captain Mangena was that there was a gap between the first and second shots. This supports the prosecution case that there was time for Steenkamp to scream.
Technical analysis could not determine which of the remaining two bullets was fired first, but Captain Mangena testified that Ms Steenkamp was seated “in a defensive position”, demonstrating to the court by bowing his head forwards and holding his hands crossed over his forehead.
One bullet went right through Ms Steenkamp’s raised upper arm and injured her chest, the other went between her fingers and into her head.
Captain Mangena told the court the most probable conclusion is that Oscar Pistorius was probably not wearing his prosthetic legs when he shot through the bathroom door, backing up the double-amputee’s version of events. The defence argues he was on his stumps as he was caught unawares.
#OscarTrial Oscar blocks his ears with his thumbs as Mangena details how Reeva died behind the locked toilet door
— Debora Patta (@Debora_Patta) March 19, 2014
The court also heard from forensic expert Colonel Van Der Nest, who testified that a heavy blood stain on the floor of the bathroom was probably from the wound to Ms Steenkamp’s arm, while the blood on the toilet seat was related to the head wound, supporting the evidence from Captain Mangena.
#OscarTrial Spoke to June Steenkamp in the break – she said its hard being here but that as mother she had to come today
— Debora Patta (@Debora_Patta) March 19, 2014
Porn sites
Later in the morning the court heard from computer expert Colonel Michael Sales about the websites browsed by Oscar Pistorius on two i-pads. The browsing history showed the devices in use until 9.19pm on the night of the shooting.
Shown on the screen in court the retrieved history included searches for porn and information about fast cars.