Two Families Share Pain Of Pistorius Trial

Pistorius Trial: Evidence Summary

Updated: 1:26pm UK, Friday 07 March 2014

A summary of the evidence heard in the first two days of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

Day Five

Prosecution witness Samantha Taylor, ex-girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius, broke down in court as she told how the athlete cheated on her with Reeva Steenkamp.

Miss Taylor also told the court how Pistorius once fired a gun out of the sunroof of a car after being stopped by police.

The star's ex-lover described how Pistorius would sometimes "scream at her" and often carried a gun with him.

The court was told how Pistorius once woke Ms Taylor fearing there was an intruder in the house and got up to investigate with his gun.

Security guard Pieter Baba described the moment he saw a distressed Pistorius carrying Reeva down the stairs.

The guard said that Pistorius assured him everything "is fine" after shots were reported. 

More evidence from Ms Taylor suggested that Pistorius once feared he was being followed and waved his gun at the suspect car until it drove off near his home.

Day Four

Prosecution witness Dr Johan Stipp told the court how he went to Oscar Pistorius' residence after hearing shots fired on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

He said he saw Ms Steenkamp lying on her back and Pistorius by her side, frantically trying to resuscitate her.

It was clear Ms Steenkamp was mortally wounded, he said, and Pistorius was crying and praying that she'd survive. During his evidence, Pistorius broke down in the dock, sobbing as he held his head in his hands.

Earlier, Pistorius' defence team said it would have been "impossible" for neighbours to hear screams on the night Ms Steenkamp died.

Lawyer Barry Roux said neighbour Charl Peter Johnson's claim that he heard gunshots followed by a woman screaming was incorrect.

"You cannot hear it inside your house," he said. "At any distance, she was in a locked bathroom."

Mr Johnson also claimed to have heard five or six shots on the night of the killing. But Mr Roux pointed out that in his initial notes he wrote that he "did not count the number of shots fired".

Day Three

Mr Johnson's evidence continued, and he was repeatedly challenged by Mr Roux who at one point said: "You are saying all the evidence that your wife gave us yesterday."

Mr Johnson replied that it was not unusual for two people to use the same words when describing an incident.

He mentioned some notes that he'd taken after the shooting, which are on his laptop and iPad. He was asked to end his evidence for the day and come back the next day, so the defence team had the opportunity to view his notes.

Pistorius' friend Kevin Lerena was then called, who described an incident in January last year in which Pistorius allegedly discharged a firearm by mistake while eating with friends in a restaurant.

He said the athlete then asked his friend Darren Fresco to take the blame.

The owner of the restaurant, Jason Loupis, and his wife Maria, later confirmed the incident after taking the stand.

Mrs Loupis said there was a child nearby when Pistorius' gun went off in the restaurant.

Day Two

The evidence of Ms Burger continued.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux said her evidence had been influenced by media coverage of the shooting, but she denied this.

Mr Roux said that evidence later in the trial would show that Ms Steenkamp would not have been able to scream after the final shot hit her in the head.

Ms Burger stood by her initial statement that she heard Ms Steenkamp after the final shot.

Another neighbour then took the stand for a short time, before Ms Burger's husband gave his evidence.

He told how he thought Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp were being held up in their house and said he looked at additional security measures for his own home the next day.

He backed up his wife's evidence, saying he heard screams after the final shot.

Day One

The first witness, university lecturer Michelle Burger, took the stand.

She says she woke on the night of the killing to the sound of gunshots and a woman screaming.

She described hearing "bloodcurdling screams" and four shots.

She is a key witness for the prosecution, as her evidence would appear to contradict Pistorius' claims that he thought he was shooting at an intruder.

The defence argued she is unreliable due to alleged discrepancies between her police statement and court testimony.

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Pistorius 'Fired Gun In Car And Cheated On Ex'

Pistorius Trial: Evidence Summary

Updated: 1:26pm UK, Friday 07 March 2014

A summary of the evidence heard in the first two days of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

Day Five

Prosecution witness Samantha Taylor, ex-girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius, broke down in court as she told how the athlete cheated on her with Reeva Steenkamp.

Miss Taylor also told the court how Pistorius once fired a gun out of the sunroof of a car after being stopped by police.

The star's ex-lover described how Pistorius would sometimes "scream at her" and often carried a gun with him.

The court was told how Pistorius once woke Ms Taylor fearing there was an intruder in the house and got up to investigate with his gun.

Security guard Pieter Baba described the moment he saw a distressed Pistorius carrying Reeva down the stairs.

The guard said that Pistorius assured him everything "is fine" after shots were reported. 

More evidence from Ms Taylor suggested that Pistorius once feared he was being followed and waved his gun at the suspect car until it drove off near his home.

Day Four

Prosecution witness Dr Johan Stipp told the court how he went to Oscar Pistorius' residence after hearing shots fired on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

He said he saw Ms Steenkamp lying on her back and Pistorius by her side, frantically trying to resuscitate her.

It was clear Ms Steenkamp was mortally wounded, he said, and Pistorius was crying and praying that she'd survive. During his evidence, Pistorius broke down in the dock, sobbing as he held his head in his hands.

Earlier, Pistorius' defence team said it would have been "impossible" for neighbours to hear screams on the night Ms Steenkamp died.

Lawyer Barry Roux said neighbour Charl Peter Johnson's claim that he heard gunshots followed by a woman screaming was incorrect.

"You cannot hear it inside your house," he said. "At any distance, she was in a locked bathroom."

Mr Johnson also claimed to have heard five or six shots on the night of the killing. But Mr Roux pointed out that in his initial notes he wrote that he "did not count the number of shots fired".

Day Three

Mr Johnson's evidence continued, and he was repeatedly challenged by Mr Roux who at one point said: "You are saying all the evidence that your wife gave us yesterday."

Mr Johnson replied that it was not unusual for two people to use the same words when describing an incident.

He mentioned some notes that he'd taken after the shooting, which are on his laptop and iPad. He was asked to end his evidence for the day and come back the next day, so the defence team had the opportunity to view his notes.

Pistorius' friend Kevin Lerena was then called, who described an incident in January last year in which Pistorius allegedly discharged a firearm by mistake while eating with friends in a restaurant.

He said the athlete then asked his friend Darren Fresco to take the blame.

The owner of the restaurant, Jason Loupis, and his wife Maria, later confirmed the incident after taking the stand.

Mrs Loupis said there was a child nearby when Pistorius' gun went off in the restaurant.

Day Two

The evidence of Ms Burger continued.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux said her evidence had been influenced by media coverage of the shooting, but she denied this.

Mr Roux said that evidence later in the trial would show that Ms Steenkamp would not have been able to scream after the final shot hit her in the head.

Ms Burger stood by her initial statement that she heard Ms Steenkamp after the final shot.

Another neighbour then took the stand for a short time, before Ms Burger's husband gave his evidence.

He told how he thought Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp were being held up in their house and said he looked at additional security measures for his own home the next day.

He backed up his wife's evidence, saying he heard screams after the final shot.

Day One

The first witness, university lecturer Michelle Burger, took the stand.

She says she woke on the night of the killing to the sound of gunshots and a woman screaming.

She described hearing "bloodcurdling screams" and four shots.

She is a key witness for the prosecution, as her evidence would appear to contradict Pistorius' claims that he thought he was shooting at an intruder.

The defence argued she is unreliable due to alleged discrepancies between her police statement and court testimony.

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Race Issue In Shadows During Pistorius Case

Oscar Pistorius Trial: Case Background

Updated: 12:49pm UK, Friday 28 February 2014

Two very different versions of what happened in the moments before Oscar Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp died have already been heard in court.

The athlete stands trial on Monday accused of her murder in a case that will make South African history as the first to be broadcast live for millions around the world to follow.

He denies the charge, claiming he mistook Ms Steenkamp for a burglar when he shot her in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 2013.

The prosecution says Pistorius, 26, fired his gun four times into the door of a bathroom, knowing his girlfriend was inside after an argument.

It is alleged she locked herself in the room after fleeing down a seven-metre passage from the bedroom at the runner's luxury home in Pretoria.

According to details outlined at previous hearings, the prosecution argues Pistorius followed her with his 9mm pistol, first putting on his prosthetic legs.

It is claimed he shot his gun four times through the door, killing an "unarmed and defenceless" woman, before the door was broken open from the outside.

The prosecution has rejected claims of mistaken identity - that Pistorius believed the person inside the bathroom was a burglar.

The defence, meanwhile, has alleged the defendant had "no intention" of killing Ms Steenkamp and was bereft at her death.

According to this version of events, Pistorius heard a noise in the early hours and thought an intruder had come through a bathroom window and was hiding there.

Defence lawyers claim he felt vulnerable and shouted for the intruder to get out and for Ms Steenkamp to call police.

It was dark and Pistorius thought Ms Steenkamp was lying on her bed, not that she was in the bathroom, lawyers have argued.

They claim Pistorius hobbled to the bathroom on his stumps and fired his gun - a 9mm pistol he kept under his bed because he had received death threats.

After the shooting, they said, he returned to his bed and saw Ms Steenkamp was not there.

It is alleged he shouted for help, broke open a door with a cricket bat and found she was alive before carrying her downstairs.

Pistorius wanted to protect Ms Steenkamp, not kill her, his lawyers claim.

The court battle will pit the wits of two of South Africa's leading lawyers and is expected to hear from 100 witnesses.

Pistorius has hired Kenny Oldwage, famous for helping acquit the man accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani in a drink-driving car crash.

He has also hired Barry Roux, known in court for his scarlet ties.

The trial will be one of South Africa's biggest ever legal showdowns, with Pistorius' team going up against veteran prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

The judge will be Thokozile Matilda Masipa, a former crime reporter who became only the second black woman to be appointed to the high court in 1988.

The trial, which takes place in Pretoria, will have no jurors, since trial by jury was abolished in South Africa under apartheid in 1969.

Ms Steenkamp's mother, June, has indicated she will attend the trial.

However, her father, Barry, is expected to be at home, recovering from a near-fatal stroke, which his brother said happened while reading a newspaper report about the trial.

Cameras will be able to "obtain a video and audio recording of the permitted portions" of the trial.

However, they will not be able to film the Olympic champion, defence witnesses or anyone else who objects to being on camera.

The mandatory sentence for someone convicted of premeditated murder in South Africa is life with a minimum of 25 years in prison.

:: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial from Monday, with a special highlights programme at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Pistorius Sobs As Reeva's Death Is Described

Oscar Pistorius has broken down in court as a neighbour described the moments he tried to save his mortally wounded girlfriend.

Prosecution witness Johan Stipp went to Pistorius' home after hearing shots fired on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

The radiologist said: "I got inside and there was a lady lying on her back.

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

"I also noticed a man kneeling on her side, on the left side. I remember the first thing he said when I got there was 'I shot her, I thought she was an intruder. I shot her.'"

He said he did not recognise Pistorius, and described how he tried in vain to resuscitate Ms Steenkamp.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead on Valentine's Day

"She had no pulse in her neck, she had no peripheral pulse, she had no breathing movements that she made," he said.

"She was clenching down on Oscar's fingers as he was trying to open her airway.

"I tried to do a jaw lift manoeuvre, to try to open the airway, but it was very difficult with the clenching down.

Pistorius' sister Aimee speaks to a member of Ms Steenkamp's family

"All during that time, there wasn't any signs of life that I could see.

"I opened her right eyelid. The pupil was fixed dilated, and the cornea was milky - in other words, it was already drying out.

"So to me it was obvious she was mortally wounded.

Pistorius' defence lawyer Barry Roux has been aggressive in his questioning

"I looked at the rest of her body and I noted she had a wound in her right thigh, also a wound in the right upper arm.

"During that time … Oscar was crying all the time. He prayed to God to 'please let her live, she must not die'.

"He said at one stage while he was praying 'he will dedicate his life and her life to God if she would just only live and not die that night'."

Pistorius wrote notes during the hearing on a pad of paper

He added that Pistorius looked "sincere": "He was crying, there were tears on his face. He was actively trying to assist her."

Sky's Alex Crawford, who was in court, said Pistorius was openly sobbing as the evidence was given.

Earlier, Pistorius' defence team said it would have been "impossible" for neighbours to hear screams on the night Ms Steenkamp died.

The high-profile case is being televised around the world

Lawyer Barry Roux said neighbour Charl Peter Johnson's claim that he heard gunshots followed by a woman screaming was incorrect.

"At the time you heard the deceased, she was in a locked bathroom," said Mr Roux.

"You cannot hear it inside your house ... Even standing on the balcony, it would have been impossible to hear the screams."

Pistorius' Pretoria mansion pictured after the shooting

Mr Johnson was giving evidence for a third day.

Both Mr Johnson and his wife Michelle Burger insist they heard a woman's screams during the shooting.

The issue of the sound of a woman screaming is a key point for the prosecution. The claims by neighbours that they heard the screams suggest Pistorius would have known it was Ms Steenkamp, rather than an intruder, as he fired.

Pistorius looks down at the floor in the court dock

Mr Johnson also claims he heard five or six shots on the night of the killing.

But Mr Roux pointed out that in his initial notes he wrote that he "did not count the number of shots fired".

Mr Roux said: "Three hours later you changed this paragraph, and you corrected little things.

"That is a sign that you revisited that note and amended it."

He also suggested Mr Johnson had given evidence to fit with his wife's account of the evening.

The world's media is in Pretoria to cover the high-profile case

Mr Johnson said he and his wife had spoken after the incident about what had happened, but that he did not hear her give evidence or speak to her about what she said in court.

Mr Roux said: "Your interpretation today is a designed one, it's to incriminate."

On top of the premeditated murder allegation, Pistorius faces a charge of illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

He denies all the charges against him and maintains he shot Ms Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.

The athlete could face 25 years in jail if he is found guilty by Judge Thokozile Masipa. South Africa does not have trials by jury.

 :: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide whether Pistorius is guilty

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Ukraine: UN Envoy Threatened By Armed Mob

Ukraine: Sanctions On Russia Would Be Effective

Updated: 8:31pm UK, Tuesday 04 March 2014

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

There is an assumption out there - one reflected in the briefing document inadvertently flashed to photographers by an official outside Downing Street - that economic sanctions on Russia would not be worthwhile.

The rationale has two strands: first, that any bar on trade and finance with Russia would end up being worse for Britain than for Russia, and second, that Russia, with its experience of illicit financial flows would be able to circumvent the sanctions anyway.

Both of these arguments are bogus. There is reason to believe that sanctions on Russia would be more effective now than at any time in recent years.

In order to understand why, one must first of all examine the economic linkages between the UK and Russia.

This is no mean feat as much of the cash flow between the two countries is thought to be illicit, and therefore flies beneath the radar.

But with the use of one or two big numbers, one can, at the very least get an idea.

The first thing to remember here that when one talks about economic sanctions, there are two main elements: first, bars on trade and second, bars on financial flows.

The impact of the trade barriers are relatively predictable, because we have a far better idea of how many goods pass between our two countries.

According to the Pink Book, the definitive annual ONS survey of trade flows, Russia is a relatively important trade partner for Britain - the 12th biggest destination for UK goods exports and the 25th biggest destination for services exports.

It is the 14th biggest source of UK goods imports and the 29th biggest source of UK services imports, which puts it behind Cyprus and a touch ahead of Austria.

In other words, in trade terms, Russia is no minnow, but neither is it as essential a trade partner as the US, Germany or France.

The interesting bit comes when one considers the flow of cash between the two countries.

Let's focus first of all on Russian cash heading into the UK. Pinning down just how much there is tricky.

We know that a lot of money has escaped from Russia in the past few years. The central bank quoted a figure of $56bn (£33bn) of outflows in 2012 alone, two-thirds of which it believes may be illicit.

Parsing International Monetary Figures to try to get a sense of outflows, the total between 2005 and 2013 is a touch more conservative at about $103bn (£62bn).

Either way, these are big numbers, and reflect cash that has simply left the country for other shores.

There is no definitive measure of how much of this flow has come into the UK, but based on the country's international investment position - a measure of how many assets Russians hold in the UK (and vice versa) - the answer is likely to be, an awful lot.

According to the latest numbers, a quarter of the Russian banking sector's entire foreign assets are in the UK. The total ($27.6bn) is greater than is in any other country worldwide.

The flow in the other direction is equally important.

According to figures Sky News has analysed from the Russian central bank, Britain has, in recent years, become the biggest provider of loans to Russian businesses.

Now, to some extent, both this and the previous numbers are a reflection of the fact that London is the world's premier centre of finance; much of this cash will originate in other countries and simply flow through the UK.

Nonetheless, this underlines that Russia has been highly reliant on flows of money through the UK in recent years and remains so today.

In other words, were there to be financial sanctions on the country, they would have more impact if levied by the UK than by any other country in the world.

The flipside, of course, is that would also represent a significant financial blow for the City which, on the basis of these numbers, has become quite reliant on Russian business as well.

But the evidence above underlines that far from having little impact, a ban on financial links with Moscow would make an enormous difference.

This impression is reinforced when one recalls that Cyprus, which used to provide the bulk of finance to Russia, is much less likely to be able to given it is still yet to remove the capital controls it imposed during its euro crisis last year.

In other words, while there may well be alternative sources of finance for Russian businesses, they may not be big and liquid enough to replace the City of London.

Finally, it so happens that this is a moment of particular vulnerability for the Russian economy. The past couple of years have been tepid in terms of economic growth. The central bank's decision to raise interest rates by a full 1.5% this week comes at about the worst possible time.

The collapse in the stock market on Monday is a further signal of financial stress. Though there are perpetual fears that the country might turn off the gas pipelines into Europe, it's worth remembering that this is something the country has never fully gone ahead with - not during the previous Ukraine crises, not even during the dying days of the Cold War.

What's remarkable, actually, is how little Russia's gas production levels have changed over the past quarter of a century. And there's a good reason for this: it is deeply reliant on that gas revenue.

All of which makes President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine even more of a gamble. The country is extremely sensitive to sanctions - both financial (primarily London) and trade (primarily those countries which consume lots of Russian gas, such as Germany, Ukraine and Turkey).

Beneath the bluster, Mr Putin will be hoping desperately that the G7 governments remain too wary to impose them at all.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Ukraine: No Agreements Reached In Crisis Talks

Diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis have stalled and ended with "no agreements" being reached.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris and left saying there would be further discussions on Ukraine "in days to come".

Mr Kerry urged Mr Lavrov to engage in direct talks with Ukraine as the pair met briefly before entering in further discussions with officials from France, Germany and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

However, Mr Lavrov left the French foreign ministry without meeting Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Deshchytsya.

The pair had earlier arrived at the building separately, which gave rise to hopes of them sitting down together to try and resolve the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

"We are all concerned at what is happening there," said Mr Lavrov.

"We agreed to continue those discussions in the days to come to see how best we can help stabilise, normalise the situation and overcome the crisis," he added.

Troops, believed to be Russian soldiers, march outside a Ukrainian base

Mr Kerry described the talks as "constructive" with "a number of ideas on the table" and said all parties were committed to finding a "remedy" to the crisis "through dialogue".

However, he warned: "We cannot and will not allow the integrity, the sovereignty of the country of Ukraine to be violated and for those violations to go unanswered.

"Russia made a choice and we have clearly stated that we believe it is the wrong choice - that is the choice to move troops into Crimea.

"Russia can now choose to de-escalate this situation and we are committed to working with Russia and together with our friends and allies in an effort to provide a way for this entire situation to find the road to de-escalation."

He said the US was committed to "making it happen as soon as possible" and said he expected to meet again with Mr Lavrov in Rome on Thursday.

Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov held face-to-face talks

IMr Deshchytsya said: "We want to keep good dialogue, good relations with the Russian people.

"We want to settle this conflict peacefully. We don't want to fight with Russia."

Mr Hague sad afterwards: "What is at stake is so enormous that it is very important for us to continue our diplomatic efforts. So in different places, through different channels, sometimes face-to face, sometimes by telephone, this will be continued over the coming days."

Wednesday's talks came to an end as Nato announced a full review of its cooperation with Russia - and said it would suspend plans for a joint mission linked to the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons.

It has been in talks with Russia about staging a possible joint mission to protect a US ship that will destroy Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.

At the same time British Chancellor George Osborne announced on Twitter plans to freeze assets of 18 Ukrainians accused of embezzling Ukrainian state funds.

Mr Lavrov answers journalists' questions in Madrid

Last week Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein said they were taking similar steps, but it is unclear whether the action involves the same 18 people.

Earlier, speaking at a news briefing with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in Madrid, Mr Lavrov said it was important for Russia to continue talks with Nato and EU leaders.

Mr Lavrov also said Moscow would like to see a de-escalation in tensions, sparked by Russian intervention in Ukraine's Crimea region.

But he added that "nobody has the right to be angry with Russia".

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin received a telephone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Kremlin said.

The two leaders "discussed possible scenarios for international co-operation in the normalisation of the social and political situation," it said in a statement.

Troops in Belbek relax after a stand-off with the Russian military

Mr Putin told his cabinet he did not want the tensions to detract from economic co-operation with Moscow's "traditional partners".

However, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned there would be "costs and consequences" for Russia if it did nothing to ease the crisis in Ukraine.

He told Prime Minister's Questions the situation should not be a "tug of war" between Russia and the West.

Mr Cameron also had a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama about the situation in Ukraine and tweeted: "We are united in condemnation of Russia's actions."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU was ready to provide 11bn euros (£9.2bn) of financial support to Ukraine over the next couple of years.

David Cameron on the phone to Barack Obama

The EU also said it could vote on Russian sanctions on Thursday if there is no de-escalation in the stand-off before then.

Mr Putin has previously said any Western sanctions against Moscow would be counter-productive.

America has already threatened sanctions, with a senior US official saying Washington is ready to impose them in days rather than weeks.

Mr Obama has also spoken to Mrs Merkel about a plan to end the stalemate.

Under the proposal, Russia would pull back its forces in Crimea to their bases in the peninsula and limit troop numbers to a Ukraine-agreed maximum of 11,000.

People watch the latest news on a TV screen at Independence square, Kiev

However, Mr Lavrov said that pro-Russian armed groups operating in Crimea were "self-defence" forces who do not answer to Moscow.

He added that Russian naval personnel in the region were in their normal positions.

A senior American official has said the plan would also see international monitors allowed in to ensure the human rights of ethnic Russians are protected.

Seen as an effort to offer Mr Putin a way out of the crisis without losing face, the plan would pave the way for direct talks between Moscow and the new Ukraine government with the potential for some international mediation.

The proposal would also see planned elections in Ukraine this May go ahead.

The US official added that Mr Obama had made clear to Ms Merkel that he would not attend a G8 summit scheduled for June in Sochi, Russia, if the situation in Ukraine had not changed.

Preparatory meetings about the summit have already been suspended.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Pistorius Trial: Reeva 'Couldn't Have Screamed'

Oscar Pistorius' defence team has said claims by a neighbour that she heard Reeva Steenkamp scream after she had been shot multiple times will be thrown into doubt by expert evidence.

The claim came on an emotional day in court, where Pistorius was seen wiping his eyes with a handkerchief and the prosecution's key witness wept.

Sky's Alex Crawford, who was in court, said: "We saw for the first time a crack in the athlete's demeanour. He spent a lot of time taking notes, but this really broke him."

Oscar Pistorius shot dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Neighbour Michelle Burger, who says she heard Ms Steenkamp being killed by Pistorius, was grilled by the athlete's defence team on the second day of the trial.

She told the packed courtroom in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria she heard a woman screaming after shots were fired in Pistorius' residence.

Pistorius chats with his legal team during a break

But Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux said: "We will debate the sequence of the bullets. We will have experts state that there was serious brain damage after the shot to the head, that it would not have been possible for her to scream at all.

"With the head shot, she would have dropped down immediately."

Ms Burger replied: "As I said [on Monday], I heard her voice just after the last shot. It could have been that it was as the last shot was fired."

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel interjected to say it was the last of four shots that struck Ms Steenkamp's head.

Pistorius looks on from the dock as the case unfolds

Mr Roux opened Tuesday's questioning by saying he wanted to focus on two aspects of Ms Burger, her "credibility and reliability".

:: Pistorius Trial Transcripts: Day Two

The defence lawyer has repeatedly attempted to establish that Ms Burger had already decided she did not believe Pistorius' account of the evening - that he believed there was an intruder in his home - when she gave evidence contradicting his story.

The world's media is watching the case closely

She is the prosecution's key witness, as her account of hearing a woman's screams suggest Pistorius would have known that it was his girlfriend rather than an intruder when he opened fire.

But the defence says the screams came from Pistorius, who was upset that he had killed Ms Steenkamp.

A tense exchange between Mr Roux and Ms Burger came to a climax when he said he had asked her the same question eight times.

"I'm going to be really slow this time," he said. "You heard at the bail application that it was put on behalf of Mr Pistorius that Reeva did not scream that night, is that correct?"

Pistorius' family are in the public gallery

After giving an unclear answer, Judge Thokozile Masipa intervened and insisted that she had to make herself clear. Eventually, the witness admitted she had heard about Pistorius' claims.

Mr Roux said: "You've watched Sky News, you've watched other channels, and you've got retrospective knowledge, and you take that knowledge and you come and give evidence today as if it's the knowledge of that fateful evening."

Ms Burger, who had been composed through two days of aggressive cross-examination, wept as she finished her testimony and broke down as she recalled the "raw emotion" she felt after the killing.

She said she often relives the "terrifying screams".

The Pretoria home of Pistorius pictured after the shooting

At around the same time, Pistorius was seen reaching for a handkerchief from his inside pocket and wiping his eyes.

Later, Ms Burger's husband Charl Peter Johnson took to the witness stand.

He said: "We were under the impression that they were being held up in their house.

"I lay in bed thinking of how I can improve the security around my house. I fell asleep at about 4am.

Pistorius turns to chat to his uncle

"I went to work early around 6am and I remembered surfing on the web for security gates for costs."

He said he too heard screams.

Earlier, the trial was temporarily delayed after an image of the witness was used by a South African news organisation.

The trial is being televised, but witnesses can choose not to appear on camera.

The Paralympic athlete looks down at his notes

Ms Burger did not want to be filmed or pictured, and the case was temporarily adjourned in the morning after Judge Masipa was alerted. She said she viewed the error as "serious" and ordered an investigation.

Pistorius, a double-amputee, is accused of the premeditated murder of Ms Steenkamp last Valentine's Day after a jealous row.

He is also accused of the illegal possession of ammunition and two additional counts relating to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

The 27-year-old, who is known as the Blade Runner, denies all the charges and claims he shot his girlfriend after mistaking her for an intruder.

The trial, large parts of which can be broadcast live after a landmark ruling, is scheduled to last for three weeks and will hear from more than 100 witnesses.

South Africa does not have a jury system. Instead, Judge Masipa will decide his fate.

If Pistorius is found guilty he could be jailed for at least 25 years.

:: Sky News is broadcasting live coverage of the trial, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Pistorius Trial: Intense Day Takes Its Toll

Criminal trials can be tedious and dull, with only rare or even no moments of courtroom drama.

For those of us who have travelled nearly 6,000 miles to be here, the trial of Oscar Pistorius has not disappointed.

Day two has been a day of emotion and a reminder of what a tough place a court can be for some, especially with the eyes and the ears of the global media upon them.

There were tears from Mr Pistorius, the defendant who had appeared so calm and measured in the dock on Monday.

Vivid exchanges about the bullets that killed his girlfriend and the one which, according to his owner lawyer, hit her in the head and caused her "severe, severe brain damage" left the Paralympic hero bent over and wiping away tears.

It wasn't lost on anyone there that this was a bullet he fired.

Oscar Pistorius wiped his eyes with a tissue during an intense day in court

The key prosecution witness, his neighbour Michelle Burger, wept too, after two days of tough cross-examination by the defence.

She revealed that sometimes when she is in her shower she relives the "terrifying screams" she heard coming from the Pistorius home the night he killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Ms Burger's husband Charl Johnson backed up his wife's evidence by saying that he also heard a woman's screams, then gunshots, then another scream.

The couple's recollections flew in the face of Mr Pistorius' version of events that he fired his gun through a locked bathroom door where he thought an intruder was hiding and realised only afterwards that it was Reeva.

Mr Johnson said he and his wife were initially reluctant to talk to the police, but eventually came forward because they felt "morally obliged" to do so.

:: Sky News' has live coverage of the trial and a special highlights programme every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Steenkamp's Mother Faces Pistorius In Court

The mother of Reeva Steenkamp has said she wants to "force" Oscar Pistorius to look at her as she meets him for the first time at his trial.

Today is the first time June Steenkamp comes face-to-face with the Paralympic and Olympic sprinter who is accused of murdering her daughter.

The 67-year-old said she wants to confront Pistorius on the first day of the proceedings.

Pistorius says he was deeply in love with Ms Steenkamp

"I want to look at Oscar, really look him in the eyes, and see for myself the truth about what he did to Reeva, and whatever the court decides at the end of his trial, I will be ready to forgive him," she told the Mail.

"But first I want to force him to look at me, Reeva's mother, and see the pain and anguish he has inflicted on me.

"I feel I need that."

Last month, Ms Steenkamp's family said they were looking for "closure".

Ms Steenkamp enjoyed a successful modelling career

Pistorius, 27, had been dating 29-year-old Ms Steenkamp for a few months before he killed her by firing four shots through the bathroom door of his upmarket Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.

The double amputee has admitted shooting the model and reality TV star but claims says he shot her accidentally, mistaking her for a burglar.

However, prosecutors say he had a heated row with his girlfriend in the hours before the shooting - with several witnesses claiming to have heard the couple arguing.

In her early days as a cover-girl

On the anniversary of her death last month, Pistorius issued a statement saying he was "consumed with sorrow" over the loss of Ms Steenkamp.

"No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident that has caused such heartache for everyone who truly loved - and continues to love Reeva," he said on his website.

"The pain and sadness, especially for Reeva's parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow.

"The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

 :: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial starting from today, with a special highlights programme every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Oscar Neighbour Heard 'Blood-Curdling Screams'

A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius has told how she heard screams and four gunshots on the night the star killed Reeva Steenkamp.

Michell Burger - the first witness at the athlete's highly anticipated murder trial - told the court how she woke up at 3am to the sound of "terrible screams" and called security.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead at Pistorius' home in February 2013

In front of a packed public gallery, which included Ms Steenkamp's mother June, she described hearing "blood-curdling screams".

"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help," she said.

"Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help.

"Just after her screams, I heard four shots. It was very traumatic for me. You could hear that it was blood-curdling screams."

When Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux repeatedly asked if she thought Pistorius was lying, she said she did not understand how Pistorius could not have heard the screams.

Pistorious' lawyer Barry Roux

Mr Roux also suggested she had in fact heard the sound of Pistorius hitting the toilet door with a cricket bat after the shooting, rather than the actual shots.

When pressed by Mr Roux whether the shots could have been fired before she woke up, she insisted she had heard gunshots.

During a tense exchange, Mr Roux also asked for details about the screams she heard between gunshots, and why details in her court testimony did not appear in her witness statement.

He asked: "Was there continuous screaming?"

Pistorius' home pictured after the shooting

She replied: "The screaming, it went very fast. I didn't expect that that evening."

Mr Roux said sharply: "What is it that you say to me by mentioning that?"

Ms Burger replied: "I didn't sit there with a stopwatch and take down the timing of each shot, or write when she shouted.

"What I can say is that there were four gunshots, and I heard her petrified screaming."

Mr Roux said: "You are not sure and what you are now doing is adapting, you're speculating, you're trying to close all the gaps."

Pistorius walks past Ms Steenkamp's mother (second from right)

Ms Burger said she later saw aerial shots on Sky News which showed how close her house was to Pistorius' home. Until then she knew the athlete lived nearby, but not exactly where.

The trial started with Pistorius, wearing a dark suit and tie, pleading not guilty to murder and a series of firearms charges.

For much of the opening statement by the defence counsel, Pistorius had his eyes closed and occasionally sighed.

The defence used the statement to allege the crime scene had been "contaminated and tampered with". State prosecutor Gerrie Nel denied there had been any tampering.

Large parts of the trial are being televised

Pistorius' team also said claims the athlete wanted to kill Ms Steenkamp "couldn't be further from the truth", and that he thought there was an intruder in his home.

After the opening statement Pistorius then fixed his gaze on the witness box, where his neighbour gave evidence for most of the day.

Earlier, there was disruption in court as a woman known only as Anna Marie - who has attempted to intervene in previous hearings - turned up at court and was surrounded and asked to leave.

Sky's Alex Crawford, who is in court, said the woman told reporters she knew Pistorius' mother, and wanted to see the judge.

She also claimed to be the ex-wife of the surgeon who amputated Pistorius' legs as a baby.

In a landmark ruling, large parts of the case are being broadcast live by three remote-controlled cameras in court, but testimony given by Pistorius can't be shown.

The trial, which will hear from more than 100 witnesses, is scheduled to run for three weeks but could go on for longer.

The South African legal system does not have trials by a jury, so a judge is presiding over proceedings who will ultimately pronounce Pistorius innocent or guilty.

The 27-year-old double amputee faces charges of murder, illegal possession of ammunition and two additional counts relating to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before shooting Ms Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year.

Pistorius affords a rare smile as the day's proceedings draw to a close

He stands accused of fatally shooting the 29-year-old model and reality TV star four times through a toilet door intentionally following a jealous row and then lying extensively about it.

Pistorius acknowledges he killed Ms Steenkamp but denies murder and says he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.

Pistorius says he was terrified at the mistaken belief that there was a dangerous intruder in his home about to hurt him and the woman he loved dearly - but he had to intervene.

If found guilty of premeditated murder, the Paralympic and Olympic athlete could be jailed for at least 25 years.

June Steenkamp - who was sitting on the same bench as members of the Pistorius family - was in court for the first time. Earlier she had said she wanted to look Pistorius in the eyes during the trial.

The High Court in Pretoria where the trial is taking place

She glared at the star as he walked into court.

At the end of the first day of the trial he was bustled out of court through crowds of photographers and journalists and into a waiting car.

Crawford said: "There were quite extraordinary scenes when Oscar Pistorius left.

"His car was absolutely mobbed, he was followed by crowds and crowds of people who ran after his car shouting and screaming.

"It was absolute chaos for 15 minutes."

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

 

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Ukraine Defection Reflects Escalating Rift

By Katie Stallard, in Sevastopol, Crimea

The head of Ukraine's navy is a traitor or a patriot, depending which side you believe.

Kiev says Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky has been fired and is suspected of treason - "for refusing to fight Russians and surrendering the Sevastopol HQ".

Russian TV showed him swearing an oath of allegiance to the new pro-Russian leader of Crimea, and promising to protect citizens' lives.

Mr Berezovsky pledged to "strictly obey the orders of the supreme commander of the autonomous republic of Crimea" and "defend the lives and freedom" of Crimea's people.

He was only appointed 24 hours ago.

A Russian warship enters the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Sunday

New Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyanov appeared alongside him, announcing that he had given orders to Ukrainian naval forces on the peninsula to ignore orders from the "self-proclaimed" government in Kiev.

He said they would now be known as the "Navy of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea".

The immediate question is how this filters down through the ranks - whether other units, ships and officers will follow suit.

The national government claimed earlier that ten Ukrainian navy ships were in Sevastopol bay, and were still loyal to Kiev and armed.

They might not be so sure of this now.

Ukraine's navy is less than a tenth of the size of Russia's. It was never going to be the decisive factor, but what happened on Sunday was symbolic - and a propaganda coup for the Kremlin.

Thousands attend a rally on Sunday in Kiev's Independence Square

Parallel to the troop movements and the strategic positioning, there is an ongoing battle for the moral high ground.

There are two competing narratives about what is happening here - and both sides claim passionately they are right.

The national unity government and protesters in Independence Square in Kiev say there has been a revolution, that a corrupt, autocratic regime has been overthrown, in short that 'the people' have won.

Russia and its supporters in Crimea insist fascists have seized power, that the country has descended into lawlessness and chaos, and the Kremlin is only acting to protect citizens' lives.

Both sides are equally entrenched.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Ukraine: Russia Condemned By G7 Over Crimea

Putin Is Cracking The Whip On The West

Updated: 7:43pm UK, Sunday 02 March 2014

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

He's done it again.

With the swashbuckling approach to international affairs that fits his popular bare-chested public persona, Vladimir Putin has out-manoeuvred his western rivals and local challengers.

Barack Obama, the leader of the World's Greatest Super Power has been left looking like a salmon gasping on a river bank.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, unwittingly put his finger on why.

"You just don't in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext," he harrumphed.

Well, if you're Mr Putin, you do.

You destabilise regions where you have cultural linguistic ties, like Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, and then if you feel the time is right, you invade them like a 19th Century Tsar and take charge in the name of protecting your natural subjects.

There is nothing surprising about what happened in the Crimea. Only that the Western powers, nests of super-expensive spy agencies and cyber surveillance, were left entirely gormless and thunderstruck when Russian commandos, posing as 'gunmen' quietly took over airport and government buildings.

But one did not need MI6, the CIA, European spooks and cyber nerds to guess that Mr Putin meant business when he identified the new government in Kiev as being the products of a fascist revolution and mobilised 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. You just had to keep your head out of the sand.

But that is where Western powers have been shoving it throughout the recent Putin years.

They did this because they are powerless to stop him. They don't have his dash nor his amoral lack of concern for anything other than what he perceives to be Russia's interests.

He has not been wringing his hands over Syria - a country he has repeatedly said should be left to make its own sovereign way (unlike the Ukraine).

He has behaved with the total hypocrisy and certainty of purpose that made nations great in the 19th Century.

Empires were built, the biggest by the Brits, on perfidy, dash, ruthlessness and clarity.

He has backed Bashar al Assad. He has backed Iran.

As a result he has the most influence in the Syria nightmare.

He also has the most influence in determining or at least shaping Iran's nuclear future – and if Tehran gets the bomb, then making sure that he's on the right side of its leadership.

As in the Ukraine, the West is enjoying baying at the Russian bear from the moral high ground.

But it has no levers that it is serious about pulling; either in the Middle East or in Crimea.

Threats of snubbing the G8 pow-wow in Sochi in June, even of economic sanctions, hardly matter to the Kremlin.

Moscow can cause economic mayhem in Europe just by turning off the gas taps.

Kerry told the CBS program Face The Nation that there would be "very serious repercussions" for Moscow and said G8 nations and some other countries are "prepared to go to the hilt to isolate Russia" with an array of options.

"They're prepared to put sanctions in place, they're prepared to isolate Russia economically, the rouble is already going down. Russia has major economic challenges," he said.

That may be true.

But Putin has the whip in his hand, and he's already doing the cracking.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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China Train Station Mass Stabbing: 28 Dead

By Mark Stone, China Correspondent

At least 28 people have been killed and 109 wounded in a mass stabbing at a Chinese railway station.

According to Chinese state media, the attack at Kunming train station in the country's southwestern Yunnan province was "organised and premeditated".

Reports from the city suggest a group of people armed with knives entered the train station at about 9pm local time on Saturday and attacked travellers with knives indiscriminately.

Photos on Chinese social media show horrific scenes with blooded bodies and luggage strewn across the station concourse.

One local resident, Yang Haifei, told China's Xinhua news agency he was attacked and sustained injuries on his chest and back.

Mr Yang said he was buying a ticket when he saw a group of people, most dressed in black, rush into the station and start their attack.

"I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife and I ran away with everyone," he said.

Police have sealed off the area around the station

Unconfirmed reports suggest police shot and killed some of the attackers and detained others.

Chinese police are not routinely armed which may explain why the perpetrators were able to attack so many people before being stopped.

According to eyewitness reports seen by Sky News, there is tension across Kunming amid concern that further attacks may be planned at other locations in the city.

Train stations in Chinese cities are vast and usually extremely busy.

The motive for the attack is not clear. One suggestion is that it is the result of a local social grievance.

Police shot some of the attackers, say reports

However, the number of attackers and their intent to kill may point to something different.

It is possibly linked to China's volatile Xinjiang province in the far west of the country.

Extreme elements of the Muslim population who live there have carried out attacks in the past - most recently in Beijing's Tiananmen Square last year.

The Uighur Muslim population in Xinjiang believe their freedoms, culture and religion are being eroded and severely restricted by the Chinese authorities.

Xinjiang, 2,500 miles to the north of Saturday's attack, has experienced repeated outbreaks of violence but the Chinese authorities have largely managed to contain the violence.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Ukraine Crisis: Russia Vows To 'Protect Interests'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that he retains the right to protect Russia's interests in east Ukraine and Crimea as tensions escalate.

Mr Putin issued the stark warning in a 90-minute phone call with US President Barack Obama, in which the two leaders disagreed over the deepening crisis.

A statement from the Kremlin said unrest in Ukraine posted "a real threat to the lives and health of Russian citizens and the many compatriots who are currently on Ukrainian territory".

"Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas," the statement added.

Mr Obama was on the phone with Mr Putin for 90 minutes

During the call, Mr Obama accused Russia of a "clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity", and expressed his "deep concern" over Russia's actions.

The White House said: "The United States calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its forces back to bases in Crimea and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine."

The Kremlin has been accused of sending 6,000 troops into Crimea, despite calls from the US and Britain for Moscow to back off.

Ukraine's Acting President Oleksander Turchinov has ordered his country's army to be placed on high combat alert.

A soldier stands next to a sign that says: 'Crimea Russia'

Two Russian anti-submarine warships have also appeared off the Crimea coast, violating an agreement on Moscow's lease of a naval base, Interfax news agency reported.

The two vessels, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, have reportedly been sighted in a bay at Sevastopol, where Moscow's Black Sea Fleet has a base.

Sky's Dominic Waghorn said Mr Obama and Mr Putin appear to be in disagreement over what should be done to de-escalate the crisis.

"The phone call didn't go very well, it seems. We have each leader, it looks like, lecturing each other," he said.

Russia claims gunmen from Kiev tried to seize Crimea's interior ministry

"The problem clearly here is that Barack Obama may regard Vladimir Putin as a throwback to the Cold War who has ended up somehow running Russia in 2014.

"The two leaders have no real way, on a personal level at least, of working it out and resolving this crisis."

In response to Russia's aggression, the US has already announced it will suspend participation in preparatory meetings for the G8 summit in Sochi in June.

European foreign ministers are also due to hold emergency talks in Brussels on Monday.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "deeply concerned" by the situation and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorise military action.

"This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine," he said.

After unrest in Kiev, tensions have shifted to the Crimea region

Mr Hague is due to visit the country today and hold talks with Ukraine's new leaders.

Pro-Russia demonstrations have been held in major cities in the east and south of Ukraine, where supporters of the new Ukrainian government in Kiev have been beaten up.

The autonomous republic of Crimea has a prime minister loyal to Moscow, but the government in Kiev has vowed to maintain the country's territorial integrity.

Reports suggest that Russian troops are trying to occupy an anti-aircraft missile base and have taken control of airports on the peninsular.

Ukraine's border guard service said about 300 armed men were attempting to seize its main headquarters in the port city of Sevastopol.

Russian helicopter gunships have also been seen in Ukrainian airspace.

Russian soldiers are guarding buildings in Crimea

But there were claims by Russia that gunmen from Kiev had been sent to seize the offices of Crimea's interior ministry.

There was grainy footage of an unidentified armed group breaking into a building, with smoke rising and reports that people had been "wounded".

In what appears to be an orchestrated move, a referendum on whether residents in Crimea want greater independence from Ukraine has been brought forward by two months to March 30.

Russia's Lower House of Parliament, the Duma, has called on Mr Putin "to take measures to stabilise the situation in Crimea".

Ukraine's population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West.

Much of western Ukraine advocating closer ties with the European Union. However, the eastern and southern regions look to Russia for support.

Crimea has 2.3 million inhabitants, most of whom identify themselves as ethnic Russians and speak Russian.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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