Oscar Pistorius sentencing: What happened in court on day 2

14 June 2016 - 18:45 By Times LIVE
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The second day of Oscar's sentencing was emotionally charged with four witnesses taking the stand at the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday. We round up what they had to say.

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius breaks down at the Pretoria High Court on June 14, 2016 on the second day of his pre sentencing hearing set to send him back to jail for murdering his girlfriend three years ago.
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius breaks down at the Pretoria High Court on June 14, 2016 on the second day of his pre sentencing hearing set to send him back to jail for murdering his girlfriend three years ago.
Image: Deaan Vivier / POOL / AFP

Witness 1: Ebba Gudmunsdottir

Gudmunsdottir, who testified in mitigation of sentence for Pistorius, told the court how kind he was to her son. The boy was born without legs and his family were inspired by Pistorius' public profile, which led to the family contacting him.

She described how Pistorius gave her son a medal he had won at the Parlaympics.

READ MORE: Mother of disabled boy tells court about meeting considerate Oscar

 

Witness 2: Pastor Marius Nel

Nel testified that he saw Pistorius at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria and said he provided spiritual care and support to him. Nel also described Pistorius’ involvement in a charity project concerning sports development.

 

Witness 3:Barry Steenkamp

The trial has revealed the pain and emotional turmoil that Steenkamp had to contend with since his daughter was shot and killed two years ago.

He said he had almost become a recluse since his youngest daughter's death, explaining he shied away from gatherings and preferred to spend time at home where he could deal with his grief.

"It has been very difficult for me to forgive... I feel that Oscar has to pay for what he did. He has to pay for his crime," Steenkamp said shaking with emotion.

 

He said although his wife June had forgiven Pistorius‚ this did not mean that Pistorius was being exonerated for the crime he had committed.

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Witness 4: Charlotte Mashabane

Proceedings concluded with Mashabane, a health manager from the Kgosi Mampuru prison who testified that Pistorius was aggressive towards her on three separate occasions.

Charlotte Mashabane said the first incident happened in March last year when she went for morning runs to check on the patients in the hospital wing of the prison‚ where Pistorius was located.

“We normally greet patients. Things changed on that day. He said I was disturbing him. He said ‘Get out. I am still asleep’.”

 READ MORE: Health manager describes three confrontations with Oscar

 

Mystery witness

Court was adjourned early on Tuesday after State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court he wanted his next witness to testify in one sitting and not be kept overnight.

 “It is not tactics. The evidence is emotional‚” Nel explained to Judge Thokozani Masipa who agreed to the adjournment.

 READ MORE: Mystery witness to give 'emotional testimony' in Pistorius sentencing

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