Top quotes from Day 1 of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial
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.