Day 12 of Oscar Pistorius Trial Looks At Bullet Holes And Gun Safety Test

During the 12th day of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, a ballistics expert revealed how police used lasers to track the paths of each bullet fired on the night Pistorius killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, according to a report from CNN.

Police Captain Christian Mangena discussed how Pistorius’ height was measured with and without his prosthetic legs. Before the court was adjourned for the day, Mangena said the height of the four bullet holes in the door ranged from 93.5 cm to 104.3 cm from the floor.

Without his prosthetic legs, Oscar Pistorius’ elbow height was measured at 96 cm. Time ran out before Mangena could unveil the rest of his investigation, including Pistorius’ height with his prosthetics.

Oscar Pistorius has admitted to killing Steenkamp, but he claims it was a mistake. Pistorius said that he thought she was an intruder, and he was protecting himself.

Whether or not he had on his prosthetics is a key factor in justifying Oscar Pistorius’ defense, since the double amputee sprinter, given the nickname “Blade Runner,” is vulnerable without them.

A previous report from The Inquisitr revealed that Oscar Pistorius had trouble listening to the graphic evidence being revealed about the case. During the March 18 hearing, Pistorius covered his eyes and plugged his ears when Mangena said he needed to see Steenkamp’s body as part of his investigation.

“I have to see the position of all the injuries sustained,” Mangena said.

Bennie van Staden, the photographer who took pictures of the scene, was on the witness stand for most of the day, while Pistorius’ lawyer, Barry Roux, tried to prove that the photos taken could not be used as evidence.

van Staden said there was no one else in the bathroom with him, but Roux then revealed additional photos taken by another police officer. van Staden said he did not see anyone else in the bathroom, and he was not in any of the photos allegedly taken by the other person.

ABC News reports that they were able to obtain some new documents from the trial. This included used targets from Oscar Pistorius’ practices, which had many shots near the bullseye.

Pistorius’ former teacher, Sean Rens, had testified earlier that the sprinter “had a great love and enthusiasm for guns.” Rens had also revealed that Pistorius had passed a firearms safety test, and even read some answers from a test Pistorius had taken on gun safety.

One section was about the “importance of target identification.” Pistorius answered with, “Know your target and what lies beyond it.”

Andre Pritorius, who wrote the exam required for South Africans before they can obtain a gun, said that Oscar Pistorius broke that rule on the night he shot Steenkamp. And he had just passed the exam shortly before that night.

“By his own answers given in court today, I think that comes as a big surprise to the general public, because everything that he’s put in there, he got the answers correct,” Pritorius said.

If convicted, Oscar Pistorius faces a minimum of 25 years in prison.