Pistorius – key points from day 23

Prosecutors on Tuesday wrapped up the relentless cross-examination of Oscar Pistorius after casting doubt on his evidence on day 23 of his murder trial.

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s proceedings:

– Prosecutor Gerrie Nel ended his intense interrogation of the 27-year-old with questions about the moments just after Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

“I have nothing further for this witness,” Nel told the court, after five days of cross-examination and seven days on the stand for Pistorius.

– The state’s case against the athlete became clear during cross-examination.

Steenkamp ate around two hours before her death, when the couple had a row. She locked herself in the toilet and screamed. Pistorius then took his gun and fired through the door as the two talked, according to the prosecution, even changing his aim when she fell backwards inside the cubicle. Afterwards he was overcome by grief.

– The 29-year-old law graduate and model told the athlete she loved him in a Valentine’s Day card on the day she died.

“I think today is a good day to tell you that I love you” she wrote on the card, found in an envelope marked with a nickname for Pistorius, “Ozzie”.

– Forensic expert Roger Dixon, the defence’s third witness, matched wounds on Steenkamp’s back to the magazine rack from his bathroom, which was brought to court for the first time.

The state alleges the wounds were caused by a bullet’s ricochet.

– The court heard sound recordings of gunshots and a bat hitting a door which sounded similar.

Dixon also testified to doing light tests at the athlete’s upmarket Pretoria home, and that his room was completely dark even with the LED light on his sound system.