Story highlights Prosecution shows video of Pistorius at shooting range

Prosecution seeking to highlight discrepancies in Pistorius affidavit, testimony

Steenkamp struggled to breathe, Pistorius says

Trial was adjourned Tuesday after the athlete broke down crying

Oscar Pistorius was the target of relentless and combative questioning Wednesday as the prosecutor in his murder trial tried to rattle the runner about the night he shot dead his model girlfriend.

Vowing to "get to the truth" of the events that took place on Valentine's Day last year, prosecutor Gerrie Nel began a blistering cross-examination of the Olympic sprinter in the case that has gripped South Africa.

"You shot and killed her. Say it -- 'I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp ,'" Nel told Pistorius.

The prosecutor immediately boxed the double-amputee athlete into a corner in what his defense team described as an "ambush," by asking him about a video showing Pistorius shooting a watermelon at a gun range.

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No one disputes that Pistorius killed Steenkamp. But the prosecution is trying to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he did so knowingly and intentionally.

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The 27-year old has admitted to the killing but said he had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder in the bathroom when he fired through the door and killed her.

Before Nel went after Pistorius, Barry Roux -- the runner's defense lawyer -- had tossed his client a question to drive that argument home. He asked Pistorius if he had intentionally killed Steenkamp.

"I did not intend to kill Reeva or anybody else for that matter," Pistorius replied.

Later in the proceedings, as Nel probed him further, Pistorius insisted he thought he would be attacked when he heard noise coming from his bathroom that night.

"I had a fear, I didn't have time to think, I discharged my firearm ... I didn't intend to shoot at anyone, I shot out of fear."

Court was adjourned for the day following that testimony.

'Zombie stopper'

Minutes after starting his cross-examination, Nel took the defense team by surprise when he asked the athlete about a shooting range video in which Pistorius is seen firing at a watermelon, and then calling the impact "a zombie-stopper."

This prompted the defense to complain that the prosecution was staging an "ambush" by introducing evidence. The court was briefly adjourned as Judge Thokozile Masipa considered both positions. The defense later said it would not object to the video being shown in court.

"It makes me very upset to hear myself saying something like that," Pistorius said as he admitted to making the comment. But he insisted he was referring "to a zombie, not a human being."

Nel showed the court a graphic photo of Steenkamp's wounded head. Speaking of the watermelon in the video, the prosecutor said: "It exploded. You know the same happened to Reeva?"

"I was there, I don't have to look at a picture," Pistorius snapped, sobbing.

Roux objected to Nel's comparison, and the judge agreed, adjourning proceedings to give Pistorius time to recover. His sister, Aimee, stood next to him to console him while he held his head in his hands and continued crying.

'My life is on the line'

Upon Pistorius' return, Nel pressed the runner on whether his recollection of that night was a reconstruction of what he heard and read rather than what he remembered. Pistorius said it is what he remembers.

"My version has never changed," he said.

Nel went over with a fine-tooth comb the version of events that Pistorius provided in an earlier bail application affidavit, and the version he has given on the witness stand over the past three days.

Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Oscar Pistorius reaches out to his uncle Arnold Pistorius and other family members as he is led out of court in Pretoria, South Africa, after being sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, October 21. Pistorius, the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, was sentenced for culpable homicide in the February 2013 death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Hide Caption 1 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria on Monday, October 13. A judge cleared Pistorius of premeditated murder last month, but he was found guilty of culpable homicide -- the South African term for unintentionally, but unlawfully, killing a person. Hide Caption 2 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks with his uncle Arnold Pistorius during his trial at the Pretoria High Court on Friday, September 12. Hide Caption 3 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius cries on the stand in Pretoria on Thursday, September 11, as the judge reads notes while delivering her verdict. Hide Caption 4 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at court on September 11. Hide Caption 5 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks to someone in court as his murder trial resumes in Pretoria on Thursday, August 7. Hide Caption 6 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits in court in Pretoria on Tuesday, July 8. Hide Caption 7 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at court in Pretoria on Monday, July 7. Hide Caption 8 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius yawns during day 37 of his murder trial on June 3. Hide Caption 9 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius hugs a supporter Wednesday, July 2. Hide Caption 10 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to evidence being presented in court on Monday, June 30. Hide Caption 11 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves the court in Pretoria on Tuesday, May 20. Hide Caption 12 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius reads notes during his trial on Monday, May 12. Hide Caption 13 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans testifies for the defense on May 12. Hide Caption 14 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – A red laser dot points at bullet holes in the bathroom door for a forensic demonstration during the trial on May 12. Pistorius admits firing four bullets through the closed door, killing Steenkamp, but says he thought he was protecting himself from a burglar. Hide Caption 15 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius returns to court as his murder trial resumes Monday, May 5, after a break of more than two weeks. Hide Caption 16 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius gets a hug from a woman as he leaves court in Pretoria on Wednesday, April 16. Hide Caption 17 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius rubs his eye Tuesday, April 15, after testifying during his murder trial. Hide Caption 18 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at the court in Pretoria on Monday, April 14. Hide Caption 19 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' sister, Aimee, cries in court as she listens to her brother's testimony on Tuesday, April 8. Hide Caption 20 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, reacts as she listens to Pistorius' testimony on April 8. Hide Caption 21 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois Pistorius in court on Monday, April 7. Hide Caption 22 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits inside the courtroom as members of his defense team talk in the foreground Friday, March 28. Hide Caption 23 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves court on March 28. The trial was delayed until April 7 because one of the legal experts who will assist the judge in reaching a verdict was sick. Hide Caption 24 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Steenkamp's mother, right, and family friend Jenny Strydom react in court Tuesday, March 25, during cross-questioning. Hide Caption 25 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Cell phone analyst Francois Moller testifies during the trial on March 25. Questioned by the prosecution, Moller listed in order the calls made and received by Pistorius after he shot Steenkamp. Hide Caption 26 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius cries as he sits in the dock during his trial on Monday, March 24. Hide Caption 27 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius talks to defense attorney Barry Roux on March 24. Hide Caption 28 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius holds his head while members of his family talk behind him on Tuesday, March 18. Hide Caption 29 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Steenkamp's mother, wearing the white collared shirt, looks on while a police officer takes notes in court March 18. Hide Caption 30 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois on March 18. Hide Caption 31 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius takes notes Monday, March 17, as his murder trial enters its third week. Hide Caption 32 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius covers his head as he listens to forensic evidence Thursday, March 13. Hide Caption 33 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Forensic investigator Johannes Vermeulen, left, is questioned during the trial March 13. Hide Caption 34 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to questions during his trial on Wednesday, March 12. Hide Caption 35 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – A police officer takes part in a court reconstruction March 12. A police forensic expert said Pistorius was on the stumps of his amputated legs when he knocked down a locked toilet door with a cricket bat to reach his shot girlfriend. That counters the track star's assertion he was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. Defense attorney Barry Roux countered by suggesting that even with his prosthetic legs on, Pistorius would not be swinging a bat at the same height as an able-bodied person. Hide Caption 36 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to cross-questioning on Monday, March 10. Hide Caption 37 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Friends of Steenkamp's family watch Pistorius during his trial on March 7. Hide Caption 38 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius covers his ears on Thursday, March 6, as a witness speaks about the morning Steenkamp was killed. Hide Caption 39 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' sister, Aimee, right, speaks with members of Steenkamp's family on March 6. Hide Caption 40 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits in court on the third day of his trial Wednesday, March 5. Hide Caption 41 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius appears on the second day of his trial Tuesday, March 4. Hide Caption 42 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Members of the media work during a break in proceedings March 4. Hide Caption 43 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius talks with Roux inside the court on March 4. Hide Caption 44 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks with his legal representatives on March 4. Hide Caption 45 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is escorted out of the court Monday, March 3, after the first day of his murder trial. Hide Caption 46 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – People try to get a glimpse of Pistorius as he leaves the court building on March 3. Hide Caption 47 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is seen shortly after arriving for his trial on March 3. Hide Caption 48 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius walks into the courtroom on March 3. Hide Caption 49 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius takes a drink of water March 3 during his trial. Hide Caption 50 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – The case has captivated South Africa. Here, Lauren Wentzel watches the proceedings from her home outside Cape Town on March 3. Hide Caption 51 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – June Steenkamp arrives at the court building for the start of the trial. Hide Caption 52 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' relatives wait inside the courtroom on March 3. Hide Caption 53 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – People at the court building wait for Pistorius' arrival on March 3. Hide Caption 54 of 54

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He repeatedly asked the athlete about the location of two ventilation fans in his bedroom on the night of the killing, seeking to undermine the defense's contention that the crime scene was contaminated by clumsy police work and other factors.

The detail was important, Nel told Pistorius, because "it will show that you are lying."

Pistorius said his memory was not good but that he was not trying to lie. "I can't change the truth," he said.

The athlete conceded there is a discrepancy between his bail application and his court testimony, saying that a claim on the bail application that he went onto a balcony to retrieve a fan before the shooting was wrong. He added that he was not present when the bail application affidavit was written.

Nel, who accused the runner of not answering questions directly at times, also asked Pistorius whether he was thinking of the implications of his answers. Pistorius said it would be reckless not to think of what he said, adding: "My life is on the line."

"Reeva doesn't have a life anymore," the prosecutor said.

The night of the killing

At the beginning of the day, Pistorius finished telling the court what he remembered from the night Steenkamp died, starting with the moment he opened his bathroom door after shooting through it and saw her bloodied body.

His voice quivering, the track star picked up where he left off the previous day, when he became so upset by his own testimony about that night that he broke down into uncontrollable sobs on the stand.

Steenkamp was sitting slumped over the toilet bowl, Pistorius said while being questioned by his defense lawyer. He said he pulled her weight onto him and cried. That's when her blood streamed down on him, he said.

Pistorius had grabbed Steenkamp's cell phone, but didn't know the pass code, so he went to get his own to call for help, he said.

He called a neighbor, Johan Stander, who arrived soon after. The athlete said he shouted and screamed at Stander to help him get Reeva to the hospital.

Then another neighbor, Dr. Johann Stipp, a physician, arrived at the house. The doctor seemed overwhelmed by the situation, Pistorius said.

The athlete also described the moments after paramedics had arrived at the scene.

"Reeva had already died while I was holding her, before the ambulance arrived," he said. "I knew there was nothing more they could do for her."

He also spoke of when police officers arrived at his door -- one of them a key witness in his trial, former Col. G.S. van Rensburg, Pistorius said.

"Every time I looked up there were more people in the house. There were more policemen. There were people going up and down the stairs. I was standing in the kitchen. I asked a policeman if I may wash my hands because the smell of blood was making me throw up."

After pictures were taken, police told him he was under arrest and would face charges.

Apology

On his first day on the stand, Monday, Pistorius made a tearful apology to Steenkamp's family.

The prosecution alleges Pistorius killed his girlfriend after they argued.

Roux had also delved deeper into his connection with Steenkamp, trying to show they had a loving relationship. The couple met a little more than three months before Steenkamp died at the age of 29.

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In affectionate messages read out in court, the pair used pet names like "baba" and "angel," said they missed each other and exchanged many "x"s, or kisses.

Only those in the courtroom can see Pistorius because he has chosen not to testify on camera. His testimony can be heard on an audio feed.

Steenkamp's mother, June, has sat in court throughout Pistorius' three days on the stand.

The defense team will call 14 to 17 witnesses, Roux said as he opened his case. The trial is scheduled to continue until the middle of May.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide the verdict in collaboration with two experts called assessors. South Africa does not have jury trials.