Final arguments have begun in the South African murder trial of Oscar Pistorius, the once-celebrated athlete who fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a bathroom door in his home. (Aug. 7)
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Pretoria, South Africa – August 7, 2014
1. Mid of Pistorius exiting car and entering courthouse
2. Wide of Pistorius entering courthouse
3. Wide of courtroom
++SOUNDBITE COVERED WITH B-ROLL++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, Prosecutor (Transcript Below)
5. Mid of Reeva Steenkamp’s parents in court
6. Wide of court
7. Mid of Pistorius sitting in court
8. Wide of Judge Thokozile Masipa listening to closing arguments
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, Prosecutor (Transcript Below)
10. Wide of Judge Masipa listening to closing arguments
11. Mid of Pistorius sitting in court
12. Wide of court
13. Mid of Judge Masipa
14. Various of court
15. Mid of Defense lawyer Barry Roux leaving courtroom
16. Wide exterior of Oscar Pistorius leaving court building
VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
DAY ONE OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF OSCAR PISTORIUS TOOK PLACE ON THURSDAY, WITH THE PROSECUTION HARSHLY CRITICIZING THE DOUBLE-AMPUTEE ATHLETE AND HIS LEGAL TEAM.
SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, Prosecutor:
“We will argue that the accused version of the event should be rejected.”
PISTORIUS’S LEGAL TEAM LISTENED FOR HOURS AS THE PROSECUTION ELABORATED ON MORE THAN 100 PAGES OF WRITTEN ARGUMENTS SUBMITTED LAST WEEK.
THE PROSECUTION BELIEVES THE DEFENSE LAWYERS FLOATED MORE THAN ONE THEORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NIGHT PISTORIUS FATALLY SHOT HIS GIRLFRIEND REEVA STEENKAMP LAST YEAR.
SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, Prosecutor:
“It just gets ridiculous with the utmost respect. All these things the court will have to accept before the court can accept the accused’s version.”
DEFENSE LAWYERS HAVE ARGUED THAT PISTORIUS ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE, FEARING AN INTRUDER IN THE HOUSE, BUT ALSO RAISED THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIS GIRLFRIEND BECAUSE HE WAS STARTLED.
THE DEFENSE TEAM WILL GIVE THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS ON FRIDAY BEFORE THE TRIAL IS ADJOURNED.
BECAUSE SOUTH AFRICA HAS NO TRIAL BY JURY, THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE IF PISTORIUS COMMITTED MURDER, IS GUILTY OF NEGLIGENT KILLING, OR IF HE MADE A TRAGIC ERROR AND SHOULD BE ACQUITTED.
IN ADDITION TO THE MURDER CHARGE, PISTORIUS FACES THREE SEPARATE GUN-RELATED CHARGES.
HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.
MATTHEW BURGOYNE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
