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Pistorius trial: Broadcast of graphic autopsy results banned

The judge in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has banned the broadcast of graphic evidence on Reeva Steenkamp's autopsy.

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(Getty)

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Source: AAP


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The chief prosecutor in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius asked the judge to bar broadcasting of what he says will be the graphic testimony of the expert who conducted the autopsy on Reeva Steenkamp, who was fatally shot by her athlete boyfriend.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued Saayman's testimony has an "explicitly graphic nature" and that it should not be shown around the world.

Pistorius says he shot Steenkamp by mistake, thinking she was an intruder in his home.

Prosecutors say he intentionally killed her after an argument.

Prior to the court's adjournment on Monday, a security guard who said he spoke with Pistorius soon after the fatal shooting of Steenkamp was questioned by the defence about his recollection of the sequences of the events that night.

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The sequence is important for the defence because, if it can prove that Pistorius called security first, it could support the contention that he was seeking help as quickly as possible.

The guard, Pieter Baba, had recalled a conversation with Pistorius, who killed Steenkamp in his home in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year.

Baba testified on Friday that he called Pistorius and was told "everything is fine" on the telephone.

Baba said Pistorius then called him back moments later, didn't speak, was crying and the second call then ended.

Baba said he was responding to neighbours' reports of gunshots coming from Pistorius' home after 3 am on February 14, 2013.

He drove with a fellow guard to Pistorius' villa and made the call from outside the house.

Baba's statement that he called Pistorius first could back the prosecution's case that the killing was premeditated, and that Pistorius was trying, at least initially, to conceal what he had done.

On Monday, however, Roux said call records showed Pistorius called security first, but couldn't speak because he was "indeed crying."

"I'm the one who called him first," Baba insisted.

"His call was first and your call was second," countered Roux, saying he had documents, including one from the police, which showed his assertion to be true.

"I put proof in front of you that Mr Pistorius called first," Roux said, referring to the call records from the night.

Roux said Pistorius had called before the guards went to his house.

"If Mr Pistorius called me first, then I would have known that something was wrong at his house," Baba replied, repeating his version.

Roux also asked the guard if Pistorius had not said "I am ok" or "I am fine" and not everything is fine.

Baba has denied that.

Pistorius, an Olympic runner, is charged with premeditated murder for Steenkamp's shooting death.

The 27-year-old Pistorius says the killing was accidental because he thought his girlfriend was a dangerous intruder in a toilet cubicle in his home.


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