Sobbing killer Pistorius removes prosthetic legs ‘to show his vulnerability’

A sobbing Oscar Pistorius walked hesitantly on his stumps around court on Wednesday as his defence team’s argued that the double-amputee athlete deserves leniency. The athlete, who is facing 15 years in prison for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, cried and blew his nose as he hobbled in front of Judge Thokozile Masipa in Pretoria. He held on to wooden benches and appeared in distress as a cushion was provided for him to rest on. “It is three o'clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps,” his lawyer Barry Roux said, stressing his client’s sense of vulnerability on the night of the murder,

His balance is seriously compromised and… he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened

Pistorius lawyer Barry Roux

Pistorius was on his stumps when he shot Ms Steenkamp dead through a toilet door at his home on Valentine’s Day three years ago. He is now waiting to be re-sentenced having already served one year of a five-year term for manslaughter before the verdict was upgraded to murder. His lawyer’s latest plea followed testimony from Ms Steenkamp’s cousin Kim Martin, who accused Pistorius of not giving the “true version” of the shooting. She also criticised him for not giving evidence at the hearing but agreeing to a TV interview that will air after the hearing ends.

I think it’s very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you had the opportunity in court to do so

Victim’s cousin Kim Martin

pistorius