01 Jul 2014
And with that we'll close updates. See you tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 09:30. Watch a full summary of day 35's court proceedings here:
01 Jul 2014
Earlier, Nel referred to an article in which OP's love for shooting was mentioned.
Part of the article reads: “We should go to the range,” OP said. He fetched his 9-millimeter handgun and two boxes of ammunition. We got back in the car and drove to a nearby firing range, where he instructed me on proper technique.
Pistorius was a good coach. A couple of my shots got close to the bull’s-eye, which delighted him. “Maybe you should do this more,” he said. “If you practiced, I think you could be pretty deadly.” I asked him how often he came to the range. “Just sometimes when I can’t sleep,” he said.
Read more here
01 Jul 2014
Van Zyl has walked over to Pistorius and shaken his hand, say reporters in court.
01 Jul 2014
And with that court adjourns until 09:30 tomorrow (Wednesday).
01 Jul 2014
Nel asks for adjournment. He had no idea he'd get Van Zyl as a witness.
01 Jul 2014
He never asked me to take Ms Taylor to the Olympics, says VZ.
01 Jul 2014
Nel says OP and RS must have argued about his strict training. This is why he wanted to take her to Manchester.
01 Jul 2014
VZ: OP was always kind, courteous (around Taylor). He was always good to women.
01 Jul 2014
Nel suggests OP's behaviour re sitting opposite venue entrances, was normal.
01 Jul 2014
Nel: don’t you think Pistorius was paranoid? VZ can’t say.
01 Jul 2014
Nel: Mr Van Zyl,did you ever read an article where a British journalist
said OP told him he used to go to the (gun) practice range at night?
Van Zyl: At that stage I did not see it as anything negative - saw it as something he did by himself when he couldn't sleep.
01 Jul 2014
Nel moves onto OP's "love for guns". VZ says first he saw OP carrying a gun was in November 2012. VZ didn't know about OP taking part in shootings. When asked, OP told VZ he carried a gun as he feared for his own safety.
01 Jul 2014
VZ says he hasn't ever discussed "incident" with OP.
01 Jul 2014
Nel moves onto "incident" from 14 February last year. VZ says he's only shared his condolences with OP. He says he actually sent an email that morning about details of trip which included RS.
01 Jul 2014
Nel: "I'm worried that you can't just answer this question. Have you
heard that version before?" Van Zyl: "That particular version, no!"
01 Jul 2014
Is OP tired? He just gave off a huge yawn.
01 Jul 2014
VZ says OP coach Ampie Louw told him that OP has been moved into different room.
01 Jul 2014
Nel: Mr Van Zyl, I'm not going to go away.
A threat perhaps...
01 Jul 2014
Nel asks again, slowly: Why did the athlete want to leave the room? VZ (trying but failing to hide very clear irritation in his voice): Because OP was constantly on his phone.
01 Jul 2014
Nel is back to his less charming self. Has asked several times about why a roommate wanted to leave a room he was sharing with OP. VZ is getting irritable. He says it was dealt with by team management.
01 Jul 2014
Nel: Have you heard about OP roommate wanting to leave the room because OP constantly on phone arguing?
01 Jul 2014
VZ: OP never asked for Miss Taylor to accompany him. I never went out to any events with them at all.
01 Jul 2014
Nel asks about relationship between OP and Samantha Taylor.
01 Jul 2014
Van Zyl: This athlete changes his legs from race to race. The athletes felt this wasn't fair. Mr OP wanted specific guidelines. (referring to incident at London Olympics).
Now Nel moves onto when OP introduced VZ to RS.
01 Jul 2014
Van Zyl says he was not at the Olympics, he wasn't accredited. Nel: did you deal with it?
01 Jul 2014
Nel asks if VZ forgot about the incident at the London Paralympics when he accused winner of being "a cheat."
01 Jul 2014
VZ: He drove at high speed, but not reckless.
01 Jul 2014
Nel asks if VZ hadn't ever read reports about OP fetching reporters from the airport and driving at "breakneck speed".
01 Jul 2014
Nel now quizzing Van Zyl about reports that OP "at high speed". He says athletes told him about speeding.
01 Jul 2014
Court resumes. Nel speaks about OP's negative press but then moves onto OP "driving at a high speed".
01 Jul 2014
OP just shared a long hug with his sister, Aimee.
01 Jul 2014
Court adjourns for tea.
01 Jul 2014
Van Zyl: there were plans in place for Oscar to take Reeva to a Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany. He was very excited.
01 Jul 2014
Wow. Even Andrea Bocelli gets a mention in this trial. This is so weird. OP wanted to take RS to a concert of the opera singer's in Italy.
01 Jul 2014
Van Zyl says there were offers of share options in firms,brand
ambassadorships. Says OP was an "astute businessman" and aware of
opportunities.
01 Jul 2014
VZ says after the London games Oscar’s profile had been raised to global sports icon.
01 Jul 2014
Roux asks: "What was the position as regards the financial future of OP during February 2013?"
01 Jul 2014
VZ reads another email in which he requested Steenkamp accompany OP to another racing event in Brazil in March.
01 Jul 2014
Zyl cites instance when OP requested business class flight for RS on work trip to UK.
01 Jul 2014
VZ reads from correspondence with an event organiser to finalise conditions on which Pistorius would compete in Manchester.
01 Jul 2014
In a first, OP asked if he could get RS to accompany him on a trip. He'd never done that with previous girlfriends. He said he wanted RS to see what "my world" was like, VZ explains.
01 Jul 2014
VZ: I met Ms Steenkamp at a number of occasions..loving and caring relationship. They always called each other pet names.
01 Jul 2014
London radio interview at BBC in 2012. Zyl and OP objected to tone of questions and left studio.
01 Jul 2014
Barcelona 2009 - camera crew stuck camera in face and called him "a cheat." I lost my temper too - VZ
01 Jul 2014
VZ: Only 2 specific incidents when OP lost his temper. Not aggression. I sometimes lost temper more than he did...
01 Jul 2014
VZ says OP once had blisters on stumps so didn't wear prosthetics on a flight. Was clear he didn't want anyone to see stumps.
01 Jul 2014
VZ: In restaurants he always sat where he had a clear view of the entrance.
01 Jul 2014
VZ: we'd spend time at his home to discuss work, he'd always be fidgeting, checking safety of the house, dogs.
01 Jul 2014
VZ: At hotels he would always ask “who is there” when I knocked on door, he also latched and locked door.
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