Publications
Partners
Pretoria - Defence lawyer Barry Roux started delivering his final argument in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius on Thursday afternoon, describing "crucial points" in a bid to prove the Paralympian's innocence.
Roux began delivering his arguments before the North Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria, by pointing out what the defence team would deem as crucial points which the State had ignored in attempting to prove its case against Pistorius.
He challenged the State's claims that Pistorius cited anxiety only when it suited him.
"An anxious person does not walk around showing vulnerability," said Roux.
He said anxiety was triggered by a situation of distress.
Nel had argued that the defence team had failed to provide factual evidence that Pistorius did indeed scream in a high pitched tone when nervous.
Roux also touched on testimony by State witness of screams from Pistorius's house that night.
He said the State had failed to clarify whether it believed the first three sounds which Pistorius's neighbours claimed to have heard, had come from the Paralympic athlete's bat as he tried to knock down the door, or whether they had come from his gun.
Roux said the State had only considered the evidence of two couples who claimed to have heard the blood-curdling screams of a woman coming from Pistorius's residence.
Other neighbours had, however, testified to have heard the cries of a man.
"The State failed to dispute the arguments of two immediate neighbours," said Roux.
Rounding off his argument for the day, Roux said there was difference between the reliability and the credibility of witnesses.
He said at times witnesses made honest mistakes and believed their own versions.
Roux is expected to continue delivering his closing arguments when proceedings resume at 09:30 on Friday.
Pistorius has denied a charge of premeditated murder
after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February last year at
his Pretoria home.
