A neighbour and friend of Oscar Pistorius has told his trial that the double-amputee athlete was “torn apart” and desperately trying to save Reeva Steenkamp minutes after fatally shooting her at his home.
Johan Stander and his daughter were at Pistorius’ house soon after the shooting in the early hours of February 14, 2013, the court heard.
Mr Stander said that he believed the Olympian had made a mistake when he shot and killed Ms Steenkamp because of the runner’s emotional state when they found him.
“I saw the truth there that morning. I saw it and I felt it,” Mr Stander testified, saying Pistorius was “really crying. He was in pain.”
Mr Stander was the fourth witness called by the defence and took the stand as the televised trial resumed after a two-week break.
Pistorius’ defence was attempting to present a scenario of his desperate panic at shooting his girlfriend in error through a toilet door after thinking she was a dangerous intruder, as he claims.
Prosecutors maintain Pistorius is lying and his story is designed to cover up that he shot the model and reality TV star intentionally in the midst of a heated argument.
The 27-year-old, a multiple Paralympic champion and the first amputee to run at the Olympics, faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the premeditated murder charge.
He slumped forward at one point with his head in his hands as details of what may have been Ms Steenkamp’s last moments alive were discussed.
Mr Stander’s testimony on the 26th day of the trial followed a shaky start by Pistorius’ defence, where his story of an accidental killing came under scrutiny as he was cross-examined by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who tried to expose holes in his account of the events of that night.
Two defence experts also had their evidence undermined by Nel. Mr Stander became emotional at one point as he described what he said was Pistorius’ “committed” attempt to save Ms Steenkamp’s life as she lay on the floor of his Pretoria villa.
Mr Stander’s daughter, Carice Viljoen, who also gave evidence today, cried as she said that she tried to stop the bleeding from a gunshot wound in Ms Steenkamp’s arm.
Ms Steenkamp had been shot in the hip, arm and head by Pistorius through the stall door in his upstairs bathroom minutes earlier.
Mr Stander said Pistorius “was asking God to help him. He was torn apart, broken, desperate, pleading. It’s difficult really to describe.”
Mr Stander lived in the same gated community as Pistorius and was once on the estate’s management committee.
He said that he received a telephone call from Pistorius at 3.18 or 3.19am, minutes after the shooting, and the runner pleaded with him to come to his home and help.