The sensational trial of Olympian Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius — charged with premeditated murder for killing his girlfriend with four shots fired through his bathroom door on Valentine’s Day of last year — resumed on Monday after a 17-day hiatus. 
 
 Following weeks of drama fit for the big screen — which was broadcast on small screens in South Africa and around the world — chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel called for a break, citing schedule conflicts. Judge Thokozile Masipa approved because the case was dragging on longer than she had expected. 
 
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 The defense is picking back up with the first person Pistorius called after the shooting, neighbor Johan Stander, on Monday. 
 
 Here's a refresher of what has already developed since the beginning of the trial on March 3. 
 
 The Prosecution 
 
 Pistorius claims he shot and killed his law student and model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, because he thought she was an intruder and felt vulnerable without his prosthetic legs. The state contests he intentionally murdered the woman after a bitter argument. 
 
 The prosecution opened with testimony from the Pistorius' neighbors, who said they heard a man and a woman yelling, followed by gunshots and then, silence. A security guard then recounted the next portion of the saga, in which Pistorius told him everything was "fine," only minutes after shooting Steenkamp. 
 
 Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius reacts during his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, on March 10, 2014. An overcome Oscar Pistorius vomited in court on Monday as he listened to harrowing expert testimony about the autopsy of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he is accused of murdering. Bongiwe Mchunu/AFP/Getty Images BONGIWE MCHUNU / Pool via AFP - Getty Images 
 
 Others called by the prosecution painted a picture of a trigger-happy and temperamental Pistorius, not the heroic athlete that the double-amputee Olympian was once lauded as. 
 
 Pistorius’ ex-girlfriend, Samantha Taylor, testified that Pistorius kept a gun by his bedside table. She also noted that her ex "sounds like a man," when he screams — disputing an assertion brought by lead defense lawyer Barry Roux that screams heard by neighbors were those of Pistorius alone, not Steenkamp. 
 
 And Taylor said she knew those screams well, claiming Pistorius often yelled at her, before ending the years-long relationship by cheating on her with Steenkamp. 
 
 Text messages from Steenkamp were read aloud to further shed light on Pistorius’ short temper. "I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and how you will act towards me," said one. 
 
 The longer string of text message conversations between the couple, the majority of which, Roux pointed out, were loving, caused Pistorius to break down crying, something that he was prone to do, especially when details of the crime scene were shared. 
 
 “I remember. I don’t have to look at a picture. I was there.” 
 
 When portions of the autopsy on Steenkamp’s body were read by a pathologist, Pistorius retched and threw up. He vomited again when close-up images of Steenkamp’s mutilated corpse were displayed. Pistorius covered his ears with his hands while a police ballistics expert said Steenkamp was in a "defensive position" when she was shot. 
 
 The Defense 
 
 Throughout the prosecution, Roux has sought to prove that the crime scene had been handled carelessly by police, which he argued would have contaminated evidence. 
 
 Roux first called a pathologist to the stand, and pictures of the bloodied bathroom and body were once again exhibited, leading Pistorius to retch once again shortly before he testified. 
 
 But Pistorius composed himself and preceded his statements with an apology to Steenkamp’s family, which appeared to do little to affect her mother, who sat nearly expressionless during the beginning of the the runner’s testimony. 
 
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 That first day of testimony, before Pistorius was cross examined, was the defendant’s chance to portray himself as a man petrified of violence who was simply trying to protect the woman he cared for, and who cared for him. 
 
 Pistorius spent the next day on the stand recounting the night he killed his girlfriend, explaining that he thought someone had climbed into the bathroom window, but when he realized his girlfriend could be on the other side of the door, he smashed it with a cricket bat. 
 
 "I sat over Reeva and I cried,” he recalled, shaking. 
 
 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel — nicknamed "The Pitbull" — wasted no time getting to the heart of the state’s case when cross-examining the only witness who knows what happened the night Steenkamp died. 
 
 "You killed Reeva Steenkamp ... Say it," Nel demanded of Pistorius. 
 
 Pistorius’ time on the stand didn't get any easier as Nel showed a video of Pistorius practice-shooting at a watermelon, then showed a gory crime scene picture, offering a comparison of the exploding watermelon to Steenkamp's head. 
 
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 "I remember. I don’t have to look at a picture. I was there," Pistorius responded. 
 
 Nel focused on establishing that the track star "concocted" his account of the shooting, accusing him of lying, and urging Pistorius to take responsibility for Steenkamp's death. 
 
 “I blame myself for taking Reeva's life," Pistorius eventually said. 
 
 Before he left the stand, Pistorius read a Valentine’s Day card from Steenkamp — a note that Pistorius said he didn't see until after his girlfriend was dead. "I think today is a good day to tell you that … I love you,” he read aloud to the court. 
 
 The Valentines Day card and present Reeva Steenkamp gave #OscarPistorius on day before she died. @eNCAnews pic.twitter.com/1RfHXGLu6X — Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) April 15, 2014 
 
 What’s next? 
 
 Pistorius’ team will continue to try to prove that the crime scene was altered by police, and that neighbors who heard Steenkamp's screams before gunshots actually heard Pistorius’ screams before he whacked the door down with a cricket bat. 
 
 Roger Dixon, a forensic expert for the defense, already testified that the bedroom was too dark to see that Steenkamp got out of bed and said he conducted an audio test that indicated sounds of a cricket bat hitting wood could be mistaken for gunshots. 
 
 The door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot is displayed during Oscar Pistorius' murder trial in Pretoria April 14, 2014. Olympic and Paralympic track star Pistorius is on trial for murdering his girlfriend Steenkamp at his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. Antoine de Ras / Pool via Reuters 
 
 In coming days, Roux is expected to call a witness who will testify that Pistorius' screams hit high pitches when he is anxious and a psychologist to dissect Pistorius’ claims of constantly feeling defenseless, according to South Africa’s Eyewitness News. 
 
 The first person Pistorius called after the shooting, neighbor Johan Stander, took the stand on Monday. 
 
 Roux has said he will call between 14 and 17 witnesses, according to The Associated Press, meaning nearly a dozen or more could remain. 
 
 The defendant’s reaction to those testimonies could be under close scrutiny after a South African columnist accused Pistorius of “taking acting lessons for your days in court.” 
 
 A post on Pistorius’ website said the claim was "devoid of all truth." 
 
 The validity of Pistorius’ show of emotion is important because the display "may affect [the] sentence because someone who is remorseful, who has committed a crime, can sometimes affect a judge," attorney Tom Mesereau, who has represented a range of high-profile clients, said on MSNBC last month. 
 
 And Pistorius’ fate lies solely in the hands of Judge Masipa and her two assessors, since South Africa has no trial by jury. 
 
 If Masipa decides, after weeks of testimony, that Pistorius is guilty of murder, he faces a minimum of 15 to 25 years in prison. Lesser charges, which could include culpable homicide and illegally possessing ammunition, might mean prison time or simply fines for the once-revered athlete. 
 
 The trial resumes. ||||| PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — The chief prosecutor in Oscar Pistorius' murder trial said Thursday the double-amputee athlete's lawyers have floated more than one theory in a dishonest attempt to defend against a murder charge for his killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. 
 
 Barry Roux, front, the lawyer defending Oscar Pistorius, accompanied by his team, arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. On Thursday and Friday, both sides will summarize... (Associated Press) 
 
 Oscar Pistorius, second from right, accompanied by a relative arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. On Thursday and Friday, both sides will summarize their versions... (Associated Press) 
 
 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel made the allegation during final arguments in the sensational trial in a Pretoria courthouse, where the fathers of the Olympic runner and Steenkamp, a model and television personality, were in court for the first time since the trial began in early March. They sat at opposite ends of a long bench in the gallery. 
 
 Nel said a criminal trial was a "blunt instrument for digging up the truth" but that he was confident of his case. He then said defense lawyers had argued that Pistorius acted in self-defense, fearing an intruder was in the house, but also raised the possibility that the once-celebrated athlete was not criminally responsible, accidentally shooting Steenkamp through a closed toilet door because he was "startled." 
 
 "It's two defenses that you can never reconcile," Nel said. 
 
 The prosecution has argued that Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013 after a quarrel. The defense has previously contended that he fired by mistake, thinking he was about to be attacked by an assailant in the toilet and that Steenkamp was in the bedroom. 
 
 In addition to the murder charge, Pistorius faces three separate gun-related charges, one of which stems from his alleged firing of a shot in a crowded restaurant called Tashas in Johannesburg, months before he killed Steenkamp. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 
 
 On Thursday, some of the state's written arguments as well as transcripts of past testimony appeared on screens in the courtroom. One section questioned Pistorius' defense case: 
 
 "Is it putative self-defense? Is it an act of sane automatism? Did he have criminal capacity to act? Or was it all an accident as in Tashas Restaurant where he had the gun in his hand and it purportedly discharged itself?" 
 
 Because South Africa has no trial by jury, Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide with the help of two legal assistants if Pistorius committed murder, is guilty of a negligent killing, or if he made a tragic error and should be acquitted. The runner faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder, and also would be sent to prison for years if guilty of murder without premeditation or culpable homicide. 
 
 Earlier, Masipa told Nel and chief defense lawyer Barry Roux that they had only until the end of Friday to complete their final arguments in court. 
 
 "Unless, of course, you want to work on a Saturday and perhaps Sunday, after church," she said, smiling. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Imray reported from Stellenbosch, South Africa. ||||| Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial that girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp did not scream or shout as he grabbed a gun and fired shots that killed her. 
 
 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said it was "improbable" that she would stand in the bathroom saying nothing while Mr Pistorius was just 3m (10ft) away shouting at her to call the police. 
 
 Mr Pistorius said he could not explain why she had not shouted out. 
 
 The athlete, 27, denies murder saying the killing was a terrible accident. 
 
 Analysis Oscar Pistorius has been on the stand for an entire week - but the back and forth of cross-examination is where testimony is tested and concessions are made. "What would a reasonable person do?" This was one of prosecutor Gerrie Nel's questions. The answer could be the difference between negligence and intent - although we're not quite there yet. As he was preparing to wrap up for the day, Mr Nel accused the athlete of creating a version of events that did not happen. "She had nothing to be scared of except you," Mr Nel charged, but the accused denied this. The prosecutor pointed out that Mr Pistorius was making "mistakes", a point the judge also noted. The court would not accept his explanation that the mistakes were a result of him being tired. The state has alleged that the pair had an argument in the bedroom and she ran away from him. We don't have any indication of how the state plans to prove this. Neighbours have testified to hearing "loud voices". 
 
 He admits killing Ms Steenkamp but says he fired his gun after mistaking her for an intruder. 
 
 He believed she had been in bed when he grabbed his gun, made his way to the bathroom and fired shots through the door. 
 
 The prosecution says he deliberately killed her after an argument. 
 
 On the third day of his cross-examination, Mr Nel pressed the South African Olympic sprinter to explain the final moments leading up to the shooting. 
 
 He asked why he had not checked whether Ms Steenkamp had heard his calls for her to phone the police, or why he had not taken her to safety instead of going to confront the supposed intruder. 
 
 Mr Pistorius said it was his personality to confront what he believed was an intruder. 
 
 The trial has been adjourned until Monday morning. 
 
 'She was scared of you' 
 
 Later, Mr Nel questioned Mr Pistorius's account that he had not heard Ms Steenkamp shout or scream during the whole incident. 
 
 "When you shouted at Reeva to phone the police, she was 3m away from you in the toilet, but she didn't say anything," he said. "Why would she not say anything?" 
 
 Image copyright AP Image caption Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June, has said Mr Pistorius tried to say sorry to the family privately 
 
 Image copyright Reuters Image caption Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began the day asking Mr Pistorius about his alarm system at home 
 
 Mr Pistorius said he did not know. 
 
 The prosecutor accused the athlete of lying, and said he had shot Ms Steenkamp while she was talking to him from the bathroom. 
 
 Gerrie Nel: Fierce prosecutor Image copyright Reuters One of South Africa's most prominent lawyers 
 
 More than 30 years' experience 
 
 Prosecuted former police boss Jackie Selebi on corruption charges, calling him an "arrogant liar" during cross-examination Pistorius feels 'bull terrier' bite Pistorius trial: Key players 
 
 "She wasn't scared of an intruder," he said. "She was scared of you." 
 
 He went on: "Are you sure that Reeva did not scream after the first shot?" 
 
 Mr Pistorius took a long time to answer, and broke down into sobs. 
 
 "At no point did Reeva shout out or scream," he said. 
 
 Mr Nel then disputed his claim, saying he would not have been able to hear if he had just fired his gun. 
 
 Prosecution witnesses have testified to hearing a woman scream, but the defence disputes their testimony. 
 
 'Fixated' on intruder 
 
 At one point the judge admonished Mr Nel, telling him not to call a witness a "liar" while he was giving evidence. 
 
 The BBC's Pumza Fihlani, at court in the capital, Pretoria, explains that lawyers can say witnesses are lying but not call them liars. 
 
 Mr Pistorius told the court he had heard a window opening and closing, and had immediately got out of bed and grabbed his gun. 
 
 "I told Reeva to get down and phone the police," he said. 
 
 Oscar Pistorius: The charges Pre-meditated murder of Reeva Steenkamp on 14 Feb 2013 
 
 If found not guilty, the judge automatically considers a charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter 
 
 Discharging a firearm in public at Tasha's restaurant on 11 Jan 2013 
 
 Discharging a firearm in public by firing it through a car sunroof on 30 Nov 2012 
 
 Illegal possession of 0.38 ammunition He denies all charges Read more 
 
 Mr Nel asked if he had not looked at Ms Steenkamp, or asked if she had heard the noise. 
 
 "My whole being was fixated on this person that I thought was in the bathroom," Mr Pistorius said. 
 
 Before the cross-examination resumed on Friday, Mr Nel confirmed that Mr Pistorius had asked to meet Ms Steenkamp's family to apologise for killing her. 
 
 The double amputee faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model. 
 
 If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive up to 15 years in prison. 
 
 Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies. 
 
 There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
– The prosecution is laying out its closing arguments in Oscar Pistorius' monthslong murder trial today, with the defense expected to wrap things up tomorrow. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as "the pitbull," began by ripping into Pistorius' claims that he acted in self-defense when shooting Reeva Steenkamp—who Pistorius says he thought was an intruder—and that he was "not criminally responsible" for the shooting because he was "startled," the AP reports. "It's two defenses that you can never reconcile," Nel said. Pistorius never once said the shooting was an accident because he "intended to kill," Nel said, per the Guardian. Nel noted that given the lack of imminent attack, Pistorius is still guilty of murder even if he did believe Steenkamp to be an intruder. Nel also drew attention to the contents of Steenkamp’s stomach, which indicate she ate hours after Pistorius said the pair went to bed, and other inconsistencies in the runner's testimony. "All these lies caught him up," Nel said. He also noted the defense never tried to disprove the claim that a neighbor heard a woman's raised voice an hour before the gunshots. As to the defense's claim that Pistorius' screams sound like a woman's, Nel said there is a recording of Pistorius screaming but the defense didn't present it because it doesn't support their version of events. Judge Thokozile Masipa will likely inform the court tomorrow of when her decision can be expected.