Oscar Pistorious' girlfriend died in a protective position

Ballistics expert says Reeva Steenkamp died covering her head. Jennifer Davis reports.

Published

over 3 years ago

Categories

World

Topics

World, Africa, Legal

People

Jennifer Davis, Oscar Pistorious, Reeva Steenkamp

Places

South Africa, Africa, Pretoria

Transcript

Oscar Pistorius headed into court for the 13th day of his trial and once inside - a police ballistics expert told the court it appears the double amputee's girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp died in a protective position with her hands over her head. Pistorius is on trial for murdering Steenkamp by shooting her through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. The Paralympic gold medalist denies the murder charge. He says it was an accident and he mistook her for an intruder. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN MANGENA, BALLISTICS EXPERT, SAYING: "The position that I am referring to as a defensive position, it's like if you see this position (puts hands on head) the wound on the left hand just between the two fingers, bullet perforated here and she was a bit facing down, it comes in here (points at head position), it also penetrated the head of the deceased." The ballistics expert also said he does not think Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting. If found guilty of murder, Pistorius faces at least 25 years behind bars.