Oscar Pistorius Trial: Did He Intend to Kill Reeva Steenkamp?
As the high-profile trial of Oscar Pistorius resumed on Monday, questions remain over whether the Paralympic athlete intended to kill his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on April 14, 2013. The court is grappling with conflicting evidence and expert testimony, making it difficult to reach a definitive conclusion at this stage.
Pistorius, charged with the intentional killing of Steenkamp, maintains that he mistook her for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked bathroom door in his Pretoria home. Psychiatric experts have examined Pistorius and hold him responsible for his actions, yet debate continues about his mental state at the time of the shooting. A detailed psychiatric report meant to explore whether he suffers from an anxiety disorder was not fully reviewed during Monday’s proceedings due to time constraints.
The defense called its first witness, Gerald Versfeld, the orthopedic surgeon who amputated Pistorius’ legs below the knee when the athlete was just 11 months old and has treated him ever since. Versfeld testified about Pistorius’ physical vulnerabilities and his dependence on prosthetic limbs, highlighting the difficulties he would face in mobility without them.
This testimony drew sharp scrutiny from the prosecution. Lead prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned how Pistorius could have pulled on the bathroom door and moved quickly in the dark to put on his prosthetics without stumbling—a point aimed at challenging the athlete’s account of events.
The court also heard from acoustic expert Ivan Lin, who cast doubt on the reliability of neighbours’ testimonies. Several neighbours had reported hearing screams, including those of a woman, on the night of the shooting—suggesting a violent argument prior to the gunfire. Lin testified that, given the 170-meter distance from the crime scene, it was unlikely that the neighbours could have clearly heard or accurately interpreted such sounds.
As the trial continues, the tension between physical evidence, expert analysis, and witness testimony leaves the question of Pistorius’ intent unresolved, keeping the courtroom and public eagerly awaiting further developments.
