On Monday, USA Today said a witness had testified that she had heard screams she clearly though came from a woman prior to the shots at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial. University of Pretoria economics professor Michele Burger, who is neighbors with Pistorius, was the first witness who testified in the trial of the double-amputee Olympic runner.
South Africa was shocked to hear its most celebrated athlete had shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. Pistorius had claimed that the firing was accidental, and that she didn't know that Steenkamp was behind a bathroom door that the athlete said he initially thought was an intruder.
"I heard her voice during the shots. I was still sitting in the bed and I heard her screams. She screamed for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help - three times he yelled for help. I heard the screams again (and) it was more intense... she was very scared. After, I heard four shots. Four gun shots - bang, bang, bang, bang," Burger told the court.
Prosecution had been saying that the shooting was a result of an argument gone awry, backed with claims by some people who heard the couple arguing prior to the incident. Pistorius' lawyer denied the claims of the prosecutors, stating that neighbors did not heard any fighting. It was not indicated in the report whether Burger was asked about hearing an argument prior to the shooting.
USA Today said that until last week, the High Court in Pretoria allowed a partial broadcast of the murder trial. The presiding judge, however, will only resort to the filming of the witnesses' testimonies unless they gave their consent to avoid distractions and potential interference to a fair trial.
Pistorius currently is free on bail. The news site said that the trial is expected to run around three weeks.
