Top quotes from Day 1 of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial

03 March 2014 - 17:12 By Sapa
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Oscar Pistorius's lawyer Barry Roux, speaks at the start of his trial at the high court in Pretoria, on March 3, 2014. File photo.
Oscar Pistorius's lawyer Barry Roux, speaks at the start of his trial at the high court in Pretoria, on March 3, 2014. File photo.
Image: Pool via Sapa

The Oscar Pistorius murder trial started in the High Court in Pretoria on Monday. Below is a compilation of quotes of the day.

"The fear in her voice [Reeva Steenkamp's] was horrific." - State witness Michelle Burger.

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"It was very traumatic for me... You can't translate into words the anxiety in her voice." -- Burger.

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"She called for help. She screamed terribly and shouted for help. Then I heard a man also call for help. He called for help three times." --Burger.

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"I woke up due to the petrified screams of the women." -- Burger.

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"It was blood-curling... you can't explain it; you just know, that woman's life was really threatened." -- Burger.

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"You only shout like that if your life is being threatened... it was very intense." -- Burger.

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"At the very least I would expect you to say... Captain van Aardt [investigating officer] let me tell you, it was blood-curdling. It was not there [in her statement]." -- Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux, while cross-examining Burger.

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"You can't say 'Ek hoor die vrou gille' [I hear the woman screams]." --prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in response to Roux querying Burger's statement in Afrikaans.

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"There were only two people in the house, there were no eye witnesses." -- Nel.

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"The State's case is based on circumstantial evidence... and on what the neighbours heard...and lead ballistic and forensic evidence." -- Nel.

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"There was no argument... It cannot be further from the truth," Pistorius' lawyer Kenny Oldwadge.

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"It's not like it's going to help." -- Oldwadge, when asked if he objected to an early lunch break.

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"Not guilty, My Lady." -- Oscar Pistorius, after being read out the charges against him.

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