04-15-2014, 03:36 PM
NEW DEFENSE WITNESS -- THE TOILET DOOR / GUNSHOT VS. CRICKET BAT - SOUND TEST PLAYED
The defense called Roger Dixon, a geologist and forensic expert. He didn't object to being televised -- can be seen in the linked video.
Dixon used to work for Col. Johannes Vermeulen, the officer/expert who testified about the door evidence for the prosecution (the one who's come under fire for keeping the door in his office for a week and not testing prints and such).
![[Image: _73678623_pistorius_door_624in.jpg]](http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73678000/jpg/_73678623_pistorius_door_624in.jpg)
Dixon said the handling of the evidence and crime scene was very unprofessional. He told the court that it was his opinion white fibers found on the door came from Pistorius' sock when he tried to kick the door down (the state expert didn't analyze the footprint and contends the fibers likely came from brushing up against the door).
Dixon said he conducted light tests in Pistorius' bedroom on a "moonless night" -- as he said the night of the shooting was -- and they showed it was almost completely dark in the bedroom.
"With your back to the light I couldn't see into the darker areas of the room," Dixon said, apparently supporting Pistorius' testimony that he could not see Steenkamp leave the bed to go to the bathroom, and so didn't know it was her in the toilet cubicle.
The defense also played recordings in court from noise tests they conducted at a shooting range on a replica door being hit with a bat and being shot at with a gun before court was adjourned for the day.
Refs:
1. http://espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfiel...-pistorius
2. Dixon's testimony -- gunshot vs. cricket bat sound test testimony starts at 28:30
The defense called Roger Dixon, a geologist and forensic expert. He didn't object to being televised -- can be seen in the linked video.
Dixon used to work for Col. Johannes Vermeulen, the officer/expert who testified about the door evidence for the prosecution (the one who's come under fire for keeping the door in his office for a week and not testing prints and such).
Dixon said the handling of the evidence and crime scene was very unprofessional. He told the court that it was his opinion white fibers found on the door came from Pistorius' sock when he tried to kick the door down (the state expert didn't analyze the footprint and contends the fibers likely came from brushing up against the door).
Dixon said he conducted light tests in Pistorius' bedroom on a "moonless night" -- as he said the night of the shooting was -- and they showed it was almost completely dark in the bedroom.
"With your back to the light I couldn't see into the darker areas of the room," Dixon said, apparently supporting Pistorius' testimony that he could not see Steenkamp leave the bed to go to the bathroom, and so didn't know it was her in the toilet cubicle.
The defense also played recordings in court from noise tests they conducted at a shooting range on a replica door being hit with a bat and being shot at with a gun before court was adjourned for the day.
Refs:
1. http://espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfiel...-pistorius
2. Dixon's testimony -- gunshot vs. cricket bat sound test testimony starts at 28:30