

Calling on the judge to deny bail for Mr. Pistorius, 26, the state brought new evidence aimed at contradicting an affidavit from Mr. Pistorius that gives his take on what happened in the early hours of Feb. 14, when his 29-year-old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was shot and killed while she was in a bathroom at Mr. Pistorius's home.


State prosecutor Gerrie Nel had said on Tuesday that Mr. Pistorius "shot and killed an unarmed woman" and he would argue the track star committed premeditated murder, a crime that commands a life sentence in prison.

The defense has been raising questions about the quality of state's evidence. The judge will make a decision whether to grant Mr. Pistorius bail, after closing arguments Thursday.

Mr. Pistorius is one of South Africa's most celebrated athletes, known as the "blade runner" for the J-shaped carbon-fiber prosthetic legs he used on the track. He was the first disabled runner to compete against able-bodied athletes in the London Olympics.

Mr. Pistorius sat quietly through the court hearing Wednesday, as family members occasionally leaned over to rub his shoulder. He was more composed than previous court appearances, when he sobbed uncontrollably. But as his lawyers and the prosecutor retraced the events of Thursday morning using a diagram of his bedroom and bathroom, he broke into tears.

Chief investigating officer, Hilton Botha, said the shooting of Ms. Steenkamp "can't be" self-defense, adding "I believe he knew she was in the bathroom and fired four shots in the door."

Mr. Botha said he arrived at Mr. Pistorius's Pretoria home at 4:15 a.m. Thursday to find Ms. Steenkamp dead on the floor on the ground level covered in towels.


Mr. Botha also disclosed statements from two witnesses saying they heard what sounded like a fight at Mr. Pistorius's home early Thursday. Mr. Botha said one witness, a neighbor who he said lives between 300 meters and 600 meters away from Mr. Pistorius's home, heard fighting between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Mr. Botha said another witness heard several gunshots fired.



Mr. Roux said police had found not testosterone, but a herbal remedy, testoconpasutium coenzyme, which isn't banned and is used by other athletes.

Mr. Pistorius's lawyer, Mr. Roux, attacked the evidence laid out piece by piece.

Mr. Roux also said the investigation team hadn't put on protective footwear when walking through the crime scene, alluding that there could have been contamination.
