In addition to swirling tales about what actually happened in the Valentine's day death of Reeva Steenkamp, new details are emerging from the South African police. Among the most intriguing details is that police found steroids, including syringes at Pistorius' home. His attorneys deny that the substances were anything other than legal, herbal substances. But the most interesting piece of information is a disputed claim about whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors claim that Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp with the intent to murder her. They point to the fact that Pistorius took the time to put on his prosthetic legs as evidence that his act was premeditated. After all, if one is fearful that an intruder is in the house, would they take the time to attach their prosthetics in order to walk the roughly 7 meters to the bathroom and then shoot 4 times through a locked door while the "intruder" cowers inside? That's the question that the prosecution is posing to the judge in the case.
But Pistorius claims that he never put on his prosthetic legs. He claims that he felt extremely vulnerable at the time of the shooting, believing that an intruder was in the house. He claims that he grabbed his gun and walked across the bedroom on his stumps and shot through the door in self defense. It was only after he shot, he claims, that he turned and realized that Steenkamp was no longer in bed next to him. Forensics will probably provide the answer to the mystery of whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetics - and that could ultimately prove to be a major piece of evidence in the case.
Neighbors have also told police and others that they heard consistent yelling in the house in the hours leading up to the shooting. So with or without his prosthetic legs, Pistorius is going to have an immense mountain to climb to prove that his shooting of Steenkamp was truly accidental.
Prosecutors claim that Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp with the intent to murder her. They point to the fact that Pistorius took the time to put on his prosthetic legs as evidence that his act was premeditated. After all, if one is fearful that an intruder is in the house, would they take the time to attach their prosthetics in order to walk the roughly 7 meters to the bathroom and then shoot 4 times through a locked door while the "intruder" cowers inside? That's the question that the prosecution is posing to the judge in the case.
But Pistorius claims that he never put on his prosthetic legs. He claims that he felt extremely vulnerable at the time of the shooting, believing that an intruder was in the house. He claims that he grabbed his gun and walked across the bedroom on his stumps and shot through the door in self defense. It was only after he shot, he claims, that he turned and realized that Steenkamp was no longer in bed next to him. Forensics will probably provide the answer to the mystery of whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetics - and that could ultimately prove to be a major piece of evidence in the case.
Neighbors have also told police and others that they heard consistent yelling in the house in the hours leading up to the shooting. So with or without his prosthetic legs, Pistorius is going to have an immense mountain to climb to prove that his shooting of Steenkamp was truly accidental.
