Tuesday 8 July 2014 14:52, UK
Oscar Pistorius' defence team have closed their case at his murder trial in Pretoria and the court has been adjourned until closing arguments are heard on 7-8 August.
The sprinter, a Paralympic gold medal winner, is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year but denies killing her intentionally and says he mistook her for an intruder.
The high-profile trial is now in its fifth month but lawyer Barry Roux has now confirmed that the defence team have called their final witness.
Sky Sports reporter Amy Lewis said: “This trial was originally expected to last for just three weeks but it is already into its fifth month.
“And Barry Roux, who is Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, said today it could have lasted much longer but many witnesses would not come forward and testify in court, because it is the first case in South African history to be televised and many simply did not want to be identified.
“In terms of what happens next, they will be in court on August 7-8 to give closing arguments before the judge will retire to consider her verdict.
“That could potentially take months because she will have thousands of documents to go through.
“In South Africa there are no juries and it will just be the judge who will deliberate the verdict. If Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of pre-meditated murder, he could face life in prison.
“If he is found not guilty, then the judge will have to consider the lesser charge of culpable homicide. In this country, the equivalent would be manslaughter.
“That carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.”
