Oscar Pistorius Trial: Paralympian Was 'Screaming, Crying, Praying' After Shooting Reeva Steenkamp

Pistorius Was 'Screaming, Crying, Praying' After Shooting

Oscar Pistorius was "screaming, crying and praying" to neighbours just after he fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp, his murder trial has heard.

Pistorius denies murder and claims he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 2013.

Neighbour Johan Stander he went to Pistorius' home after receiving a call from the Paralympian and saw Pistorius carrying Steenkamp's body down the stairs.

Witnesses described seeing Pistorius screaming while carrying Reeva Steenkamp's body

Sky News reported that Stander told the court: "He (Pistorius) said, 'Please, please, please come to my house, please. I shot Reeva. I thought she was an intruder. Please, please come quick.'

"Oscar was crying, really crying. He was in pain. He asked us to help him. He wanted us to put Reeva in a car and take her to hospital.

"We tried to calm him down. He was broken. He was screaming, crying, praying."

Pistorius' defense case continued on Monday, which was the first day the trial sat since it was adjourned for a break last month.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who is nicknamed 'The Pit Bull' for his ferocious cross-examination, queried Stander's evidence.

Stander told Pistorius had said the shooting was an accident during their phone conversation, to which Nel said this was new evidence. Stander replied he was mistaken.

Nel said: "Why would you make such a mistake? Are you here to help Mr Pistorius?"

Stander answered: "I am here to tell the truth … He never said he made a mistake, that was my understanding. I interpreted from that phone call … as far as I'm concerned it was a mistake."

The trial continues and is now scheduled to finish around May 16.

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