UPDATE: 'Non-stop shouting' heard at Pistorius house; court hears substance in room was herbal remedy
“Non-stop shouting” was heard coming from Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius’ home before his girlfriend was shot dead, his bail hearing was told today.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the prosecution team has a witness who heard the shouting between 2am and 3am.
The details were revealed as the second day of the 26-year-old athlete’s bail hearing began at Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
In an affidavit, Paralympic star Pistorius has denied murdering the model Reeva Steenkamp, 29, at his home in the early hours of Thursday.
He has said the couple were in love and he fired through his closed bathroom door, hitting the victim, thinking a burglar or burglars were inside.
Steenkamp was hit three times and today the court heard the bullets hit her arm, hip and head.
Pistorius has said he shot her with a 9mm pistol.
Investigating officer Hilton Botha said he wanted the Olympian charged additionally with a weapons violation.
The court heard that two mobile phones were seized at the property and neither had been used to call the police or paramedics.
Pistorius has said he had been a victim of crime and received death threats, but today the court heard there were no records of this.
Police told the presiding magistrate that testosterone and needles were found in Pistorius’ bedroom.
The court has heard the substance found was actually a herbal remedy which may have had traces of testosterone.
The athlete – who was sobbing this morning in court – made notes with a silver pen as the case progressed.
It was claimed the track star was involved in another shooting at a restaurant in Johannesburg in January and asked the gun owner to take responsibility for the incident.
Mr Botha also told the court of an incident at Kyalami racetrack where Pistorius allegedly threatened to “f*** up” a man during a row over a girl.
Pistorius, who underwent below-the-knee amputations when he was 11 months old, has said he was too frightened to turn the bedroom lights on on the night Reeva died.
But today Mr Botha said the prosecution have a witness who says the lights were on after hearing gunshots.
It was reported that a female’s screams were heard, then more gunshots.
Lawyers and police studied plans of the bedroom and bathroom as the bail hearing proceeded. A projector was used to beam the plans up for the public and press to see.
Mr Botha said there was “no way” he believed Pistorius’s version of events.
The runner has said he shot through the door while on his stumps but the court heard the bullets’ trajectory was through the top of the door.
Mr Botha said he believed the bullets were fired down, suggesting that Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs when the shots were discharged.
