Oscar Neighbour Heard 'Bloodcurdling Screams'

A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius has told how she heard screams and four gunshots on the night the star killed Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year, and the highly anticipated trial is now under way.

The first witness, neighbour Michell Burger, told the court how on the night of the killing she woke up at 3am to the sound of "terrible screams" and called security.

"She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead at Pistorius' home in February 2013

"Just after her screams, I heard four shots. It was very traumatic for me. You could hear that it was bloodcurdling screams."

Sky's Alex Crawford, who is in court, said: "When the trial got under way the first witness was absolutely gripping, very compelling testimony."

The trial started with Pistorius, wearing a dark suit and tie, pleading not guilty to murder and a series of firearms charges.

Pistorius walks past Ms Steenkamp's mother (second from right)

For much of the opening statement by defence counsel Kenny Oldwage, Pistorius had his eyes closed and occasionally sighed.

Mr Oldwage told the court how Pistorius thought an intruder was in his bathroom when he shot Ms Steenkamp. He also said Pistorius denied an allegation the pair had argued before the shooting.

Questions over the investigation into the shooting were also raised, as he said the crime scene had been "contaminated and tampered with". State prosecutor Gerrie Nel denied there had been any tampering.

Pistorius' home pictured after the shooting

Pistorius' defence also said that claims the athlete wanted to kill Ms Steenkamp "couldn't be further from the truth".

Earlier, there was disruption in court as a woman known only as Anna Marie, who has attempted to intervene in previous hearings, turned up at court and was surrounded and asked to leave.

Crawford said the woman told reporters she knew Pistorius' mother, and wanted to see the judge. She also claimed to be the ex-wife of the surgeon who amputated Pistorius' legs as a baby.

June Steenkamp is in court for the first time

In a landmark ruling, large parts of the case are being broadcast live by three remote-controlled cameras in court, but testimony given by Pistorius can not be shown.

The South African judge who made the decision said he had weighed up arguments for a fair trial from the Pistorius camp with principles of open justice and freedom of expression.

The trial, which will hear from more than 100 witnesses, is scheduled to run for three weeks but could go on for longer.

The High Court in Pretoria where the trial is taking place

The South African legal system does not have trials by a jury, so a judge will preside over proceedings and ultimately pronounce Pistorius innocent or guilty.

The 27-year-old double amputee faces charges of murder, illegal possession of ammunition and two additional counts relating to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before shooting Ms Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria.

Ms Steenkamp's mother June is in court for the first time. Earlier she had said she wanted to look Pistorius in the eyes during the trial.

He stands accused of fatally shooting the 29-year-old model and reality TV star four times through a toilet door intentionally following a jealous row and then lying extensively about it.

Pistorius acknowledges he killed Ms Steenkamp but denies murder and says he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.

Pistorius says he was terrified at the mistaken belief that there was a dangerous intruder in his home about to hurt him and the woman he loved dearly - but he had to intervene.

If found guilty of premeditated murder, the Paralympic and Olympic athlete could be jailed for at least 25 years.

More follows...

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

 

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