olympian oscar pistorius expected to testify as the defense begins presenting its case. storius, of course, admits he shot his girlfriend reeva steenkamp but he has steadfastly maintained it was an accident. that is him walking into court during this trial. cnn legal analyst kelly phelps joins us live from pretoria with more on what we can expect. kelly, this is the first time oscar pistorius is going to speak about what happened that night and it will be something that people will be watching closely to see how he holds up. >> absolutely. we know that in his written statements that have been read out to the court he's managed to maintain a very high level of consistency with regard to his story so far. but it's a whole different story when you have to present that verbally yourself in court and be subject to cross-examination. and that's more so considering that he has found this very emotionally and physically challenging and times and he will now have to withstand the onslaught of cross-examination. >> we've seen him visibly shudder and get sick and cover his ears so f

was there another side to oscar pistorius? inging and went off. >> when "dateline" continues. ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] build anything with the new toyota tundra. toyota. let's go places. [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. [ m'm... ] great taste. [ tapping ] sounds good. campbell's healthy request. m'm! m'm! good.® crunch! that's serious heat hitting your tastebuds. what? five wings for $3? that's spice and price. better get yours quick. there's something for everyone to love at mcdonald's. ba da ba ba ba! ♪ ba da ba ba ba! thatnourish a lifetimeatable asof heat petsmart®.iness.s, these are the hands a pediatrician. these are pioneering advances in heart surgery. and these are developing groundbreaking treatments for cancer. they're the hands of the nation's top doctors. kaiser permanente doctors. and though they are all different, they work together on a single mission: savi

we have seen oscar pistorius break down so far in this trial. as the defense begins, as he perhaps take the stand, what aspects of that story tom just laid out will he have to really, really nail as he gives his version of events? >> well, the two most important factors in his testimony really are first of all, consistency and second of all, sincerity and believability. consistency will be key. because unusually for an accused person, he gave a lot of details about his version of events very early on. even at the bail hearing. and so far he has stuck to that version of events in his opening statement and he has managed to reinforce that version of events through cross-examination. his defense counsel's cross-examination. now that it is him on the stand he will need to maintain that consistency in the face of what is likely to be very aggressive cross-examination. >> when we hear the cross-examination, what will the prosecutor likely go after as far as oscar pistorius' story and the story of the intruder? and the argument, the lights, whether the

first, they directly contribute oscar pistorius' testimony. >> oscar pistorius said it was so dark. >> pitch-black. >> and neighbors are saying, but i can see the window. >> exactly. so two reasons. first, it catches him in a fib. part two, any ambient light -- the theory it was so dark in the bedroom i simply couldn't see anything, a speck of light coming under that bathroom door, is going to seriously undermine his contention that i had no idea reeva was in the bathroom. >> so i'm just going to play defense attorney saying well, are you so certain when that light was on, as opposed to before or after the shooting. >> and that's why the defense attorney is hammering each witness about exactly what time, how many shots. >> mark o'mara, when you have a doctor on the stand, that's a smart witness and he was able to pop in there that little comment about, i don't know, i think maybe he was begging for atonement, when he was begging for god. o lord, my -- my head fell in my hand. if you're a defense attorney, you just don't want to hear that thing. this is an expert, a doctor, saying, sou

where the little things mean everything. >>> we begin with the trial of oscar pistorius who has pleadedrder of his girlfriend. >> do you understand the charges, mr. pistorius? >> i do. i do, my lady. >> how do you plead? >> not guilty, my lady. >>> in other news today, are urb that says the troop buildup is for the protection of its own citizens as diplomatic efforts to calm the situation intensify. >>> at the oscars, "12 years a slave" has won three awards, including best drama as "gravity" picked up seven. >>> hello and welcome to pretoria. a republican challengely rainy day outside the high court. this is where the trial of oscar pistorius for murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp has gotten under way. 13 months since the 14th of february, 2013 in which he fired four shots into the bathroom of his home inside was his girlfriend reeva steenkamp who was just 29. we have been watching the comings and going inside and outside the court thanks to a televised feed granted permission about a judge last week. and we were able to see oscar pistorius come into the court. when he was read ou

chaos outside the court as olympian oscar pistorius is finally tried for the shooting death of his modelirlfriend. >> how do you plead? >> not guilty, my lady. >> he says it was an accident, mistaken identity. but the first witness says she heard screaming before the gunshots. >>> plus, bachelor betting. >> where is juan pablo? >> there's fierce competition for tv's most eligible bachelor. but it's not just on the show. >> nikki. >> fans now creating brackets and place bets on contestants. >> unbelievable. >> apparently, juan pablo isn't the only prize. >> pizza's here. >> and oscar tipper. when ellen had pizza delivered to the academy awards, it seemed he got stiffed. but today it was her turn to make a surprise delivery. >> keep it right here, america. "nightline" is back in just 60 seconds. >>> good evening. olympian oscar pistorius, known as the bladerunner, an amputees recognized worldwide for his athletic accomplishments. now he's one of the world's highest-profile murder defendants. he insists it was just a horrible accident 2that left hi model girlfriend reeva steenkamp dead in h

a and now we have the latest on the oscar pistorius trial. >>> oscar pistorius who sprinted into the olympics went into the south african courtroom charged with murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp, a stunning up and coming model. we speak to those who were there that fateful valentine night. you could hear him crying? >> yes, i know. you could hear it. >> reporter: we hear from those who saw oscar away from the track. >> you get violent, and you get too far with people. >> reporter: and we take you into courtroom. >> i was traumatized to what i heard that evening. that petrified screams and shouts >> reporter: and then -- >> bang, bang, bang. >> reporter: "cnn spotlight, the oscar pistorius trial." >> make way. make way! >> reporter: making his way through the flashes of the international media gauntlet. >> make way. make way. >> reporter: oscar pistorius has gone from world famous to infamous since the night he shot and killed reeva steenkamp a year ago on valentine. and now the trial for premeditated murder. he claims that he mistook her for an intruder and shot her by acciden

the resident of the estate of oscar pistorius.she's been running through what she heard and the order in which she heard screams and shots coming from oscar pistorius's home. it's the start of what will be a long and intense trial of course. we'll be following it for you on "bbc world news". it brings us to the end of this edition of "gmt". thanks very much indeed for being with us. about to use the uh... scott: that's a bunch of ground-up paper, lad! scotts ez seed uses the finest seed, fertilizer, and natural mulch that holds water so you can grow grass anywhere! looking good, lad! man: thanks, scott. ez seed really works! so, how come haggis is so well behaved? scott: 'cause he's a scotty. man: oh. scott: get scotts ez seed. it's guaranteed. seed your lawn. seed it! you can't always see them. but it's our job to find them. the answers. the solutions. the innovations. all waiting to help us build something better. something more amazing. a safer, cleaner, brighter future. at boeing, that's what building something better is all a

pistorius found purpose on the track. he met his coach, who transformed oscarrom a schoolboy into a world class athlete. i talked to lowe on the track where he spent countless hours training pistorius. >> oscar is very strong minded. he will even push harder than i want him to push in the last repetition. >> pistorius took his training seriously. you don't drink alcohol? >> i think the last time i drank was about two months ago. if you're going to be an elite sportsman, you can't socialize with your friends on that level. >> but pistorius apparently had a dark side, say some who socialized in the same circles, said pistorius had temper and tried to pick a fight with him. >> he would get violent and angry and fight with people and cause a lot of problems. the incident with me and him is because he was drunk at a party and he started shouting and screaming on the phone to me. >> lowe admits the athlete he sees as a son isn't perfect. >> i've been asked plenty times now the question of temper. if i said he must have -- if you haven't got the temperament, you canno

24 hours of oscar pistorius. can you get enough? >> reporter: we got an inside look at that channel, pumping out 15 hours of all things pistorius every day. john webb is one of its anchors. how obsessed are south africans with this story? >> i think they're becoming more obsessed. this is all new territory for many south africans. we haven't had this kind of access to court proceedings before. especially around a criminal trial of this significance. i think the more it goes along, i think the more interested people are coming. >> and it will peak when the blade runner himself finally takes the stand to explain how he took his love's life. i'm matt gutman for "nightline" in pretoria, south africa. >> we will, of course, stay on the story. next, how much would you pay to bring your favorite tv characters back to life? 91,000 veronica mars fans opened their wallets. [ male announcer ] this is the age of knowing what you're made of. why let erectile dysfunction get in your way? talk to youroctor about viagra. ask if your heart is health

today in court paralympian oscar pistorius heard words from beyond the grave. xt messages from the girlfriend he shot and killed. abc's matt gutman is in pretoria with the latest. >> reporter: oscar and reeva seemed to sizzle on the red carpet. they were south africa's it couple. >> an historic event. >> reporter: the double amputee who shined on the olympic stage. >> the kind of event that makes us love the olympic games. >> reporter: and the lawyer turned model. >> hey, guys. i'm reeva. >> reporter: on the verge of stardom. but theirs was a relationship that may have burned too hot. at oscar pistorius's murder trial monday, a voice from beyond the grave. forensics experts cracked open reeva steenkamp's cell phone exposing the inner workings of what the prosecution portrayed as a troubled relationship. >> i'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and how you will act to me. >> reporter: intimate text messages the couple shared in the weeks before oscar pistorius shot and killed her in his bathroom last valentine's day. >> i get snapped at and told my a

did oscar pistorius murder his model girlfriend? or was it a tragic accident? >>> and from one oscar to another. the parties, the highs, the loys, everything you could probably want to know about the oscars, including this extraordinary moment. >> guess what, pizza's here. >> the surprise pizza delivering star of hollywood's biggest night. how was the tip? the pizza man will be here live. >> russia on the move in ukraine. president obama's options. host of cnn's fareed zakaria gps. his book is soviet fate and loss. welcome to both of you. fareed, are we seeing or are we not seeing the beginning of a new cold war? >> it's not really a cold war, piers, because russia is not the superpower it once was. this is a country that is in many ways that tragically diminished what it was, one of the greatest losses of empire in the last 20 years that has happened to it, but i think what you are seeing is a conflict that is very reminiscent of the cold war, so that russia will veto any action in the united nations. the west will probably be almost all united in condemnation,

. >>> the reenactment in court at the moment oscar pistorius tried to break through the bathroom door. >>> ukraine's interim government says its military will not use force against russia in crimea. >>> as we mark 25 years of the worldwide web, its inventor calls for protection for users from government surveillance. >>> what happened to flight mh 730 as it disappeared. no one knows. the last civilian contact with the flight was made between malaysia and vietnam. was it trying to return to kuala lumpur? what was it doing? one report from an ail worker says something was seen burning in the sky 300 kilometers off the coast of vietnam. in the last hour what has emerged. where you saw the position last transponder, what we know is the civil aviation authority had a recording of a plane on its secondary radar up to 1:31 in the morning. that was heading somewhere in that direction. now we've heard from an air force general that to the west of malaysia way up the coast, about the area where there is the double sea in malacca off the coast of malaysia where panang island is, the air force sa

now to south africa, the third day of the oscar pistorius trial. the chief defense lawyer has been seeking to undermine the prosecution testimony of a couple who say they heard a woman's screams and gunfire the night the athlete fatally shot his girlfriend. a fourth witness has been testifying about a separate gun charge when oscar pistorius allegedly fired a shot under a table. he's pleaded not guilty to killing his girlfriend. let's go to my colleague karin giannone. particularly about that incident of what was said in court about that incident. >> reporter: kevin lorena who was out with a meal with oscar pistorius and other friends. one of those friends handed oscar pistorius his pistol. he apparently had a look at it. it's alleged the gun went off in his hand accidentally, just grazing the toe of kevin lorena under the table and causing a lot of shock and consternation. why the prosecution have brought in this firearms charge, an additional charge to murder is trying to paint oscar pistorius as a trigger happy, irresponsible, reckless person wh

i want to bring in a man who's known oscar pistorius since he was a child. >> i know you didn't keep touch with oscar in later years. what was he like when you went to school with him. we're going to come to an extreme parallel, what was he like? >> you know, piers, i lost contact with him when i went to high school. but i knew he -- i was a little older than imha, i went to high school with him. he was always the happiest kid, covered in sweat, everyone always wanted to touch his prosthetic legs. >> he became this national hero, a hero around the world to many people who are suffering perhaps similar disabilities that he had. a huge shock, to anyone who ever knew him like you did, a massive shock. >> it was unbelievable. south africa treats their sports heroes like gods, we put them on a pedestal, and they can do no wrong. when we saw him run in the olympics, everybody had tears in their eyes, we were filled with so much pride, that's why it's so unbelievable to see the situation he's found himself in today. >> the relevant reason i wanted you to be on the show, you grew up in johan

continued to raise doubts about the credibility of the testimony of a married couple, neighbors of oscar pistoriusss three. now, over and over again, we heard pistorius' defense try and build a picture of the fact that this married couple had perhaps colluded over their testimonies. in terms of oscar pistorius today, he seemed quite business-like, often sharing notes with his team. he didn't seem emotional, he didn't cry or break down. he didn't put his hands over his ears like yesterday over some of the more trickier parts of the testimony, how reeva had died. back to you, erin. >> thank you very much to robin, who is in the courtroom every day. danny, we've been talking about this trial together. the prosecution is trying to paint pistorius has someone careless with guns. obviously south africa, the crime situation is different. but he brings a gun into a restaurant and he shoots it. and then according to the testimony of the friend we just saw, tries to get his friend to take the blame. how much does this hurt oscar pistorius? >> i think it's very bad. in the united states at least, prior bad a

all, they say, to prove that oscar pistorius fired his gun with the intent to kill reeva. oscar's defense says it was a tragic mistake driven by his fear of crime and vulnerability. at a bail hearing last year, oscar gave his most detailed account of what happened. it filled me with horror and fear of intruder or intruders of being inside the toilet. i fired shots at the toilet door and shouted to reeva to phone the police. outside the courthouse, media has been preparing for days. more than 2,000 journalists have applied for accreditation to cover this trial to give you a sense of how intense it will be followed. inside the courthouse here behind me, officials say they'll limit the access into the courtroom. about 100 or so passes have been given, including representatives from both families. in south african law, it will come down to one judge, not a jury, who in the end will decide whether oscar pistorius, once a hero to millions around the world, is, in fact, a criminal. ayman mohyeldin, nbc news, pretoria, south africa. >>> up next here, we go live to the red carpet to

she was just 17 when she started dating oscar pistorius in 2011.on, when barry rue, the defense attorney, starts questioning some of her testimony, she says that she broke up with oscar pistorius when he started dating reeva steenkamp, but then she breaks down into tears. listen to this. >> the first time our relationship ended was when he cheated on me with -- >> just take your time, please. we'll just pause for a moment. >> reporter: but what this witness has also said is oscar pistorius used to carry a gun with him wherever he went, used to keep it by his bedside, that they used to argue, that their relationship was tempestuous at times, very importantly saying that when oscar pistorius started screaming at her, he sounded like a man, and not a woman, which is something the defense has been trying to put across in this case so far. also, we don't know why this is important yet, but the prosecution, the state making a big point that oscar pistorius used to use his phone at night and used to use his ipad at night to send messages to people. we don

these witnesses say they heard screaming and shouting like a fight between reeva steenkamp and oscar pistoriusore the shooting. that would give a motive to oscar for intentionally killing. so this is really big evidence and very important evidence of the prosecution in the intentional murder case. >> and because you specialize in international law here, obviously, the most physical difference we see is the positioning of oscar pistorius, as well as the absence of a jury here, but what are you watching in this case as it relates to the law in south africa that is key perhaps to whatever decision is made? >> well, there's several important pieces of evidence yet to come. this is a war between two stories. it's a rather simple stories, oscar pistorius says that he thought there was an intruder in there and since it is true there's lots of intruders in south africa and in this city, there's a big background of violence, that makes some degree of sense and that he was just defending himself, but if that were true, then he wouldn't have taken time to put on his legs, his prosthetic legs, to shoot th

and we have seen oscar pistorius becoming physically ill in court. an adjournment because of that. he was asked after that adjournment if he would be able to continue with today's proceedings. but his lawyers basically told the court if he was going to change anything he would have asked the court not to continue. but because nothing is going to change, oscar has asked for the evidence to continue being delivered in court. >> and what reasons have been given as to why this should not be broadcast? >> the reason i says so is the dignity of the deceased will not be respected, and her family. he basically had some ethical problems about broadcasting these details. and there was arguments of the defense attorney saying it was not in the public interest to give out the details of reeva steenkamp's injuries. >> thank you. pressure is growing on ukraine's enter eupl government as moscow strengthens its grip on crimea. in less than a week, the southern region holds a referendum on whether to join the russian federation. rallies are taking place in donetsk, e

everybody should agree with me. >> many thanks indeed for joining us. >>> oscar pistorius murder trial court heard more evidence from reeva steenkamp's postmortem report. findings contradict a previous statement by pistorius over when the couple went to sleep that night. oscar pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend. nomsa is outside the courthouse. bring us up to date. what has happened so far today? >> reporter: well, despite the constant grilling from defense attorney barry roux, the state pathologist was adamant reeva steenkamp did have something to eat two hours before she died. that contradict thes the statements on car pistorius made when he was applying for bail. that does work for the prosecution because that is quite crucial. because it contradicts that statement. but after that we then heard from another character witness that was brought in by the prosecution. it is a friend of oscar pistorius, darren fresco. he told the court that he was with oscar pistorius when shots were fired at the restaurant in a restaurant two months before the model reeva steenkamp wa

. >> oscar pistorius pleading not guilty as he goes on trial for killing his if i recall friend. >> without rapport, we don't have intervention. >> police officers trying to change the lives of people they keep having to arrest. >> we begin with new developments out of ukraine, russia ordering ukrainian navy to surrender. the united nations security council holding a meeting on ukraine this afternoon and vice president biden urging to pull back all russian forces that in country, russia ordering two navy bases to surrender. russian troops also in the capitol of crimea. nick shiver joins us live. you are in the capital, what you are seeing there on the ground? >> on the ground right now, we're seeing right outside the capitol is a very strange scene, you've got ukrainian base or what used to be ukrainian bases for now full of russian soldiers. we just visited one you where the russian flag is flying, russian soldiers flying between two sides of the base on opposite sides of the street. i talked to a mother carrying hear daughter that said that she welcomed them. down the road, there is an ar

the perfect couple, it seems, until that night last year when police were called to oscar pistorius' me and found steenkamp dead, shot through the bathroom door by pistorius who said he thought she was an intruder. the prosecution says he intentionally killed her. their first witness a neighbor who chose not to be on camera today who says she was awakened that night by loud screams and four gunshots from the direction of pistorius' apartment 200 yards away. >> it was bloodcurdling, something that leaves you cold. something you can't portray in the court. you can't explain it. you just know that woman's life was really threatened. >> reporter: mary carillo of nbc sports spent time with pistorius before the 2012 olympics. >> he seemed to be kind, gentle, humble. that he is up for this murder trial is a little hard to understand. >> reporter: but the prosecution claims there was another side to oscar pistorius that few saw, a short-tempered, paranoid gun enthusiast capable of murder. did he deliberately murder reeva steenkamp? this closely watched trial now turns on that question. ayman

clearer skin is possible. >> olympian oscar pistorius is expected to testify as the defense begins presenting its case. pistorius admits he shot his girlfriend, reeva steencamp but has said it was an accident. cnn legal analyst kelly phelps joins us live from pretoria on what we can expect. and kelly, what is the chance he may take the stand today and what is at stake for him if and when he does? >> well, there is a very good chance he will take the stand today. that is because there is a rule in south african law if the accused wants to work on his case he risks about the decision to wait and sort of play his cards and see how his witnesses perform. so we all for all intents and purposes expecting to see him today. and really, this will be the first time in a 15-day trial so far that we've actually heard his voice in court. and since he first pled not guilty. >> and what is at stake for him? we have certainly seen him break down during this trial, the very emotional get sick. and now he is taking the stand. how might his lawyers have prepared him for this? >> i imagine they have been prepari

he testified for the prosecution he called oscar pistorius and oscar pistorius said everything was findnd that he was covering up what was happening. on cross-examination the defense attorney said, oscar pistorius called you and what he said was vastly different. >> i phoned -- to inquire as to whether everything was in order. he said he's okay. but he was crying. he came down the steps, carrying someone in his arms. he placed the person down on the floor. >> the important part is when you're asking, he said, he is okay. do you see that? >> so he is okay. not everything is fine. another important witness, samantha taylor, the former girlfriend of os score pistorius who set the stage about oscar pistorius and guns. he not only faces a murder charge but three gun charges that could land him in prison for the rest of his life. >> thanks, jean. >>> now we want to look at two key things in this case, the evidence and the unknowns. let's start with the evidence. frankly, i think, it's inextrickably linked with the unknowns. first is there is no jury. so you've got a judge trial. and what's al

for me, because i don't want to live with bitterness in my life. >> reporter: ebba guony sees oscar pistorius in a different light. she travelled here from iceland to show her support. we spotted her sitting quietly in the courtroom. her son, born with the same condition as pistorius, is it also a double amputee. she contacted him eight years ago and they became friends. >> he is a wonderful role model. not just because he runs fast. it's because he is a kind person. he is kind, he is polite, he is humble. he's just a very good example of a human being. >> reporter: but with memories of reeva steenkamp still fresh, how the rest of the world sees oscar pistorius will now be shaped in court. ayman mohyeldin nbc news, pretoria, south africa. >>> and still ahead for us tonight, the price you pay. the skyrocketing cost of having a baby in this country, already the highest in the world. tonight why the cost is so unpredictable, and who's paying the most. >>> and later, the amazing scene on the side of the road. a 95-year-old veteran of world war ii, an emotional salute caught on camera. >>> we are

. >>> still to come, emotional testimony in the oscar pistorius murder trial. >>> the special honor for a south bay man that sacrificed his life to save others on september 11th. >>> dramatic testimony this morning in the fourth day of the osc oscar miss t oscar pistorius trial. >> the most dramatic day of this trial yet with testimony so powerful, oscar pistorius himself could not bear to listen. he put his hands on his ears and he was weeping. this is what prosecutors today called a witness. another neighbor of oscar's, who says he heard the screams, just like the other witnesses, but this one is more significant because he says that he saw the lights on at the time after he heard the shot. significant because oscar pistorius all along said that the lights were off in the house. he thought it was was an intruder, he could not see, that's why he fired into the door and killed his girlfriend. today that doctor says he thinks the lights were on and that he rushed over to the house to help. he saw reeva's body. he said she had no signs of life, and he saw oscar miss tpis right after, and

testimony in oscar pistorius' murder trial so graphic today, that the judge wouldn't even allow the cameras to roll in the courtroom. and as for pistorius, he wretched repeatedly and threw up several times, and covered his ears as the pathologist who performed the autopsy on his girlfriend, reeva steenkamp, testified in day six of his murder trial. robyn curnow joins me live from pretoria, south africa. pretty dramatic day. but what did we not see or hear in this courtroom when those cameras were turned off? >> reporter: well, i was in court, and it was dramatic, because you had this sound track, essentially, of oscar pistorius vomiting, gagging. and then, of course, you had these very clinical, medical details coming out, the ex it tent of reeva steenkamp's wounds. so the pathologist told the court she had three main injuries, one to her hip, one to her arm, one to her head, all of those individually could and would have killed her. they were all fatal. he described other injuries that came from perhaps splinters, shrapnel-type injuries from the bullet going through the wooden door. also t

a friend of oscar pistorius, kevin lerena, a boxer who had a meal with pistorius and friends in january that's when a gun was passed under the table, a loaded gun which accidentally went off. that is the other charge that we heard today, the witness was to do with that charge specifically. obviously the prosecution's tactics here trying to show oscar pistorius as somebody with a history of irresponsibility, recklessness, gung-ho with guns, and that adding to the burden of evidence that they want to prove the case. going back to how the day started, witness number three, you mentioned him charl peter johnson, the husband of the first witness who was undergoing such a grilling on days one and two, michelle berger. this is a little bit of what happened to him in court under cross examination by barry roux. >> you saw the gun being passed under the table. >> well, the movements, the actions. i didn't see the gun. >> you heard what he said. >> one up, one up. >> what do you understand by one up? >> that there's one loaded into the chamber. people that carry guns i suppose carry one up. >> an

the crowds and media as oscar pistorius arrived at court this morning.within half an hour or so, we've all learned that this trial has been postponed until april 7th. there was almost an audible groan as that announcement was made because there have been so much of a build up towards today. there has been a build up thinking oscar pistorius might have been called as the first witness in his defense. nonta, what exactly did she do and why? >> she told the board members trial would not continue today because one of her assessors has taken ill. until the 7th of april. that means the court cannot continue with just one assessor because that means the court is not properly constituted. the role that these assessors play is that they will be helping the judge in order to reach a verdict, whether guilty or not guilty. they can challenge the judge, basically on matters of the law, but they can only help the judge to reach the guilty or not guilty verdict. after that, they get dismissed. then the judge will decide on sentencing if oscar pistorius is found guilty.

artist told us afterwards that he was so worried oscar pistorius was going to vomit that he actually cleared all the pencils out of his bag and handed his satchel, actually vomit into.s to - so this was the kind of deep visceral emotion that pistorius experienced. and i think for anybody watching it on television, any of us inside the court, it was sad, it was powerful. it was just gut wrenching, wasn't it? >> so, robin, what about what was said on the stand? apart from the drama that was playing out, you know, from defendant's table, what about the actual testimony? what was said from this witness that was so critical to this case? >> well, i think this witness as well as four others who lived at varying distances as neighbors around pistorius's house, this doctor was the closest. and i think to broadly sum it up it's about what they heard and when. all of them over the course of the past few days have acknowledged that they heard sounds, screams, sounds. and if what the defense is trying to prove and have tried to do over and over again, quite successfully so, i think our legal ana

did oscar pistorius murder his model girlfriend? or was it a tragic accident? from one oscar to another. the parties, the highs, the loys, everything you could probably want to know about the oscars, including this

angie's list -- reviews you can trust. >>> an explosive day seven of olympian oscar pistorius' murderrial. and perhaps the most damning witness in the trial so far. the pathologist, the guy who actually conducted the autopsy on oscar's girlfriend, the model, reeva steenkamp. and what he says versus what the blade runner says happened in the early hours of that valentines day of 2013. they are not exactly the same thing and that is problematic when facts are at stake. robyn curnow has been wall to wall, gavel to gavel, as we say, and joins me live from tremendous tore i can't, south africa. what was the issue that was so different that really had people sitting up and taking notice on this one, robyn? >> reporter: well, this pathologist was just such a credible witness. he was medical, clinical, of course, in his assessment of her wounds. but i think what was very clear under cross-examination, he it not waiver. and he kept on saying, going back to his testimony, that he believed reeva steenkamp had eaten within two hours of her death. he said he found vegetable matter in her stomach.

lisa bloom, how much will oscar pistorius's fame factor in here?n it in american cases, o.j. simpson case, other cases. he is a huge national hero in south africa, a huge pressure on the judge to deliver the right verdict. how much will the celebrity aspect kick in? >> it's a huge benefit for anyone on trial, certainly in america and oscar pistorius even with a judge in south africa. he is a national hero. people don't want to see him in prison and the cases over 20 years of high profile cases, they have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt with a celebrity in the defendant's chair. not just beyond a reasonable doubt. people are relukt about the to incarcerate someone like oscar pistorius. >> this is a clip of her mother talking about oscar pistorius. >> even though it is -- if he made a mistake, i mean, enormous, it's an enormous mistake, i've lost the most precious thing in my life, myself and my husband, our daughter, beautiful daughter and we were close, we were very close, i've lost everything that's important to me. and but still, i can forgive.

and that made oscar pistorius a bit angry. it was alleged he fired it through the sunroof into the sky. it's part of the prosecution trying to build a pitting of oscar pistorius as one who can't be trusted around guns, an angry man and reckless man. estelle is an advocate here in south africa. what is the state prosecutor doing this week by bringing the witnesses we have seen so far? >> what evidence led up to this issue with the neighbors. and that would be an intention to murder. on the other hand, there are other charges pertaining to the firearms. if those charges are introduced into the charge sheet, the prosecution would have the vehicle on platform to introduce the amount of character we have been hearing. but it is not admissible. >> so the restaurant gun going off in a restaurant. shooting the through the sunroof of a car. this is all character evidence. >> if the charges were formulated that evidence would be brought in admissible. the court cannot make a finding. you're a certain type of person. each and every eleme

that contradicts the statement that oscar pistorius made to the court when he was applying for bail in february of last year when he told the court that he accidentally shot reeva steenkamp through the door and then went back to his bedroom to put on his prosthetic leg and then tried to kick the door open. when that wouldn't work he said he went back to his bedroom to fetch a cricket bat and then tried to open this door. that's a clear contradiction there. so cross examination has now started in court and from what we are hearing is that based on media reports last year that the police may have taken the door and may have removed the actual door from the crime scene and locked it away at a police station for safekeeping, that may come into play here because the defense attorney is likely to ask the court to disregard the information, all the testimony that was given by the state forensic expert here because there are questions surrounding how the evidence was preserved to this day. >> yes. and we're seeing at the moment the courtroom with that expert where he was actually physically us

coming up next on "new day," emotional testimony at the oscar pistorius trial. irlfriend talking about their relationship and how it ended and how often pistorius used his gun. >>> two of the country's biggest super market chains are joining forces. what will the major merger mean for you and your grocery bills. food for thought. captain obvious: i'm in a hotel. and a hotel is the perfect place to talk to you about hotels. all-you-can-eat is a hotel policy that allows you to eat all that you can. the hotel gym is short for gymnasium. the hotel pool is usually filled with water. and the best dot com for booking hotels, is hotels.com. it's on the internet, but you probably knew that. or maybe not, i don't really know you. bellman: welcome back, captain obvious. captain obvious: yes i am. all those words are spelled correctly. what is is place? fastternet is where bri togethr thbestntment. loo like thfutureoo like thfute further analytics are necessary. beam us up. ♪ that's my phone. hey. [ female announcer ] the x1 entertainment operating system, only from xfinity.

anderson in kiev. >>> a surprise witness in the murder trial involving oscar pistorius. er olympian took the stand and testified he was with pistorius when he fired a gun in the restaurant. after that pistorius asked the friend to take the blame. this took place a couple of weeks before the death of pistorius' girlfriend, reeva steenkamp. we have the coverage in pretoria. >> reporter: day three here at the oscar pistorius trial. we heard a series of witnesses who tried to paint a picture of oscar pistorius as perhaps trigger happy and irresponsible all relating to one incident. it was a johannesburg restaurant where he was handed a loaded gun, it thent went off. accords to the state, pistorius then tried to get a friend to take the wrap for him. >> he said, please take the gun from me. there's too much media around me. just take the gun from me. frptd of and when the restaurant owner came up, he took the blame. >> reporter: now also today the defense continued to raise doubts about the credibility of the testimony of a married couple, neighbors this couple h colluded over

oscar pistorius apparently retching in court.ding whether the details are too graphic for live tv, the web, social media. let's break down this trial. what does it mean what's happening today? gentlemen, thank you for both of you. let's talk about the graphic nature of the testimony. just quickly, this would be another thing unusual to see in a u.s. court. what does this mean what's going on right now? >> one of the things with this whole trial, it's the first time they've had cameras in south africa, trying to show the world how open and fair their system is. now you're shutting it down in an intricate part of the case. i'm not the screams hurt your client assuming you're representing pistorius. however, the latest development in testimony is that as graphic as this autopsy and the details about what happened to reeva steenkamp are, the shot this the head seems to negate the ability to hear a scream after that shot. so how does the defense use this? >> well, they've already been developing their theory because it's critical, the

the defense takes aim at a tearful neighbor of oscar pistorius. a milk-bone biscuit. ♪ say it with milk-bone. you can't always see them. but it's our job to find them. the answers. the solutions. the innovations. all waiting to help us build something better. something more amazing. a safer, cleaner, brighter future. at boeing, that's what building something better is all about. ♪ you stand behind what you say. there's a saying around here, at boeing, that's what building something better is all about. around here you don't make excuses. you make commitments. and when you can't live up to them, you own up, and make it right. some people think the kind of accountability that thrives on so many streets in this country has gone missing in the places where it's needed most. but i know you'll still find it when you know where to look. this is mike. his long race day starts with back pain... ...and a choice. take 4 advil in a day which is 2 aleve... ...for all day relief. "start your engines" with the quicksilver cash back card from capital one, it mean

oscar pistorius arrived in the courtroom in south africa today. and his girlfriend's family was there, ready to stare him down. abc's hamish macdonald, tonight, on the dramatic encounter. >> reporter: with the eyes of the world upon him, oscar pistorius arrives at court. >> open up, open up. >> reporter: he is escorted directly in front of the family of the woman he killed. reeva steenkamp's mother says she wants to look him in the eye and see the truth for herself. but he looks straight ahead, and there is no eye contact. known as blade runner, oscar pistorius earned worldwide fame, overcoming enormous odds. to become the first athlete to compete in the able-bodied olympics. he now faces four charges, including murder. >> how do you plead? >> not guilty, my lady. >> reporter: reeva steenkamp was a model, a reality television star and a trained lawyer, too. the defense claims the killing was a tragic mistake. pistorius thought steenkamp was an intruder in the home. but in court today, a neighbor described hearing blood-curdling screams from a woma

stunning testimony in the trial of olympian oscar pistorius. make way. oscar how do you feel the trial is going? a case that raises new questions about the shocking level of domestic violence in south africa. also, tonight, new worries in crimea. the crisis in ukraine threatens to explode in a new round of clashes. canned he can't pass cheeseburger. the cats, cars and more than a few failed log entries on a fast ride to success. >> disney started with a mouse. i started with a cat. >> will you be as big as disney? >> i would love to be. >> and good evening, thanks for joining us. i'm joie chen. it is an international murder case, very strong echoes of the most controversial trials in this country ever. an olympic athlete, accused of killing his long time love in a rage. in the trial of south africa olympian oscar pistorius. saw dramatickic courtroom scenes and shocking graphic testimony. pistorius is accused of killing reeva steenkamp as she cowered in a bathroom. as "america tonight"'s lori jane gliha reports, brought forward serious questions about wome

out of the courtroom, and through this high-security wall, with electrified fences, right into oscar pistoriusouse, with a trail of blood. slides showing the bloody towel used to stop steenkamp's wounds. the air rifle. the stones in the bathroom and its shattered door. it was reinstructed in center court. pistorius realized when he killed steenkamp, he put on prosthetics to bash down the door. >> the marks on the door is actually consistent with not having his legs on. >> reporter: the prosecution accused him of lying about that night, suggesting steenkamp's death was anything but an accident. matt gutman, abc news, pretoria, south africa. >> abc news has been told that he will take the stand. >>> princess diana giving top laid secrets to the enemy? see what we learned in our "instant index." my sinuses are acting up and i've got this runny nose. i better take something. truth is, sudafed pe pressure and pain won't treat all of your symptoms. really? alka seltzer plus severe sinus fights your tough sinus symptoms plus your runny nose. oh what a relief it is and his new boss told him two things

. >> oscar pistorius on trial for mudder. what witnesses heard the night his girlfriend was shot to dress. >>> a new discovery from the dark times. what's unearthed from a past internment camp in 1942? >>> welcome back. there has been talk in the west about possible economic sanctions against russia. russia has critical leverage, pipelines that supply national gas to europe. ali velshi reports on what could happen if the critical supply is cut off. >> the european union gets a quarter of its natural gas supply through russia, half routed through ukraine's network. any disruption will hit germany, which depends on the gas to run its factories, especially hard. if the factory out put increases or for example falls because of a shortage, that would rock europe and ripple across the globe. disruption to russian gas supplies could happen in one of two ways - russia could shut off supplies in response to the threat of sanctions or they could set things up militarily, septembering troops to eastern ukraine, part of the national gas

oscar pistorius appeared to be at his emotional breaking point. >> the screams that sounded like fightingore like someone being attacked. >> as neighbor charles johnson testified, pistorius seemed to be wiping tears from his eyes. pistorius, south africa's olympic hero is accused of murdering his girlfriend, model reeva steenkamp. he held his head in his hands, covered his ears and rubbed his eyes. and then there was this. pistorius gagging and wretching as neighborhood radioologist explained the state in which he found reeva's body. it was evidently difficult for pistorius to be brought back to that evening. >> i remember the first thing he said when i got there was that -- he said i shot her. i thought she was a burglar and i shot her. >> during cross-examination, he said pistorius looked sincere in his grief. even up to the point they feared pistorius may be suicidal. >> making promises to god. he was trying to i don't know, maybe get atonement. but it was very, very distraught. severely so. definitely wanted her to live. >> what was clear that evening? >> it was obvious that oscar was

oscar pistorius has arrived at court in pretoria for his trial. police crime scene photos are expected to be the focus of testimony today. the prosecution is continuing to look at the gun pistorius used to kill reeva steenkamp. on monday they tried to use the olympian's only in of gun laws to show her death was no accident. we take a look at what happened. >> reporter: the matter of reeva steenkamp back in court for the first time since the start of the oscar pistorius murder trial. greeting by the olympian's sister resumed for week three but she didn't stay long. steenkamp left the courtroom as a police photographer walked through hundreds of photos from the crime scene. the one too difficult for the mother to hand? a picture of a bloody pistorius just hours after he shot and killed steenkamp's daughter. earlier in the day, a certified gun dealer took to the stand saying he had given pistorius a safety questionnaire before selling him several firearms. the prosecution used pistorius's own answers against him as they aimed to show the olympian had

also oscar pistorius' murder trial has resumed. we'll take a look at why today's testimony could be so important to the case against the blade runner. female announcer: during sleep train's big gift event get a $200 best buy gift card with purchase of selected mattress sets. or, get 24-months interest-free financing. sleep train's big gift event is ending soon. ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >> criticism of russia's annexation of crimea has been growing louder. william hague said tuesday that russian president vladimir putin is isolated russia from the world community and its economic benefits. >> no amount of sham and perverse democratic process or skewed historical references can make up for the fact that this is an incursion into a sovereign state and a land grab of part of its territory with no respect for the law of that country or for international law. >> u.s. vice president joe biden is on a mission to reassure nato allies of western support. in poland tuesday, he said russia will face more than just sanctions. >