Oscar Pistorius appears in the Pretoria Magistrates court on June 4, 2013, in Pretoria. He is accused of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. This is Pistorius's first appearance ahead of his murder trial.
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JOHANNESBURG – eNCA can exclusively reveal startling new claims from prosecutors in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, who now say the Olympic and Paralympic athlete was most likely on his stumps when he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The evidence is contained in documents from the prosecution itself, which eNCA has in its possession.
A year ago, prosecutors claimed Pistorius had cold-bloodedly put on his prosthetic legs, walked into his bathroom, positioned himself against the basin and fired the bullets he knew would kill Steenkamp on that Valentine’s Day morning.
Now, the State’s own ballistics expert has backed Pistorius’s claims that he was on his stumps when he shot Steenkamp.
He also believes Pistorius fired from a distance greater than 60cm from the bathroom door , but closer than 1,5metres originally claimed by police.
The State’s evidence that Steenkamp was standing, facing the door when she was shot contradicts some media reports suggesting she was cowering.
She is believed to have been clothed - wearing a pair of Pistorius’s shorts and one of his t-shirts.
The State has also admitted it did not find testosterone in his home –again an about turn from the former investigating officer’s testimony.
The Prosecution however continues to insist it can prove that Pistorius preplanned Steenkamp’s killing.
It claims to have evidence that security guards at Pistorius’s luxury complex telephoned him after the shooting to ask if everything was okay at his home.
He replied the situation was ‘fine’ and he did not call for their assistance.
Prosecutors also say they have testimony from a resident in the complex who says she heard a raised woman’s voice, before shots rang out.
The State says this resident lives 98 metres away from the athlete’s home.
Pistorius has claimed he and Steenkamp spent a loving night together.
The State’s own forensic findings that Pistorius was most likely on his stumps when he shot Steenkamp would appear to undermine its case that her killing was a premeditated murder.
The State says it can still prove this case though, with witness testimony from some of Pistorius&39; and Steenkamp’s closest friends.
At this stage, however, prosecutors admit they have no clear idea what the motive for the shooting may have been, or what the couple may have argued about in the moments before the shooting.
