03-20-2014, 11:03 AM
More Ballistics Testimony - Bad Day for Pistorius Defense
![[Image: 3687439_xth111-881371-01-02.jpg]](http://www.leparisien.fr/images/2014/03/19/3687439_xth111-881371-01-02.jpg)
Police Capt. Chris Mangena ^ testified that Reeva Steenkamp was likely shot first in the hip, then cowered behind a toilet in the locked bathroom with her head covered as she was hit by three bullets that followed.
Mangena testified that Reeva Steenkamp was standing behind the bathroom door when Oscar Pistorius began blasting. The first shot shattered Steenkamp’s hip and sent her sprawling on the magazine rack by the toilet. Acting on instinct, she buried her head in her arms and tried to take cover. But there was no escape from the next three shots that left her slumped on the floor.
Defense attorney Barry Roux tried to get Mangena to contradict himself and suggested Steenkamp was sitting on the toilet when she died.
Mangena stuck to his story. He also said ballistics data confirms that Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he fired the fatal shots.
Mangena testified that contrary to Team Pistorius’ claims, the first shot hit Steenkamp in the hip, not in the head.
“It caused her to fall down and move backwards,” he said. “That was the importance of the magazine rack, if she fell down to the floor she would be too low, but if she was positioned on top of the magazine rack, it would bring her body in line with the bullet holes in the door.” It was the fourth shot that shattered her skull.
“She was facing down,” the expert said. “I’m of the opinion that when the bullet hit her head she dropped completely. She was in a seated position, her head ended on the toilet seat, and her body was between the toilet and the magazine rack, still seated on the magazine rack."
Roux suggested Steenkamp was hit with two “double-tap” bursts of bullets that would not have given her time to scream. “I disagree,” Mangena replied. (HOTD: Roux really needs a credible expert to dispute Mangena on this when the defense presents its case in chief; Mangena's testimony lends credence to the "blood curdling" scream neighbors reported.)
The state's next witness, police Col. Ian van der Nest, said the blood spatter found on the toilet seat confirmed she was already down when the fourth shot hit her.
Col. Michael Sale then took the stand. He is the state's expert who downloaded the two iPads found at the crime scene and confirmed earlier reports that on the afternoon before the shooting, Pistorius had surfed several websites, including a porn site. (HOTD: Meh, he surfed a porn site earlier that day -- not seeing that as related.)
Prosecutors expect to wrap up their case next week. The trial is now expected to continue through mid-April.
Ref:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/ba...z2wVww9WDs
Police Capt. Chris Mangena ^ testified that Reeva Steenkamp was likely shot first in the hip, then cowered behind a toilet in the locked bathroom with her head covered as she was hit by three bullets that followed.
Mangena testified that Reeva Steenkamp was standing behind the bathroom door when Oscar Pistorius began blasting. The first shot shattered Steenkamp’s hip and sent her sprawling on the magazine rack by the toilet. Acting on instinct, she buried her head in her arms and tried to take cover. But there was no escape from the next three shots that left her slumped on the floor.
Defense attorney Barry Roux tried to get Mangena to contradict himself and suggested Steenkamp was sitting on the toilet when she died.
Mangena stuck to his story. He also said ballistics data confirms that Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he fired the fatal shots.
Mangena testified that contrary to Team Pistorius’ claims, the first shot hit Steenkamp in the hip, not in the head.
“It caused her to fall down and move backwards,” he said. “That was the importance of the magazine rack, if she fell down to the floor she would be too low, but if she was positioned on top of the magazine rack, it would bring her body in line with the bullet holes in the door.” It was the fourth shot that shattered her skull.
“She was facing down,” the expert said. “I’m of the opinion that when the bullet hit her head she dropped completely. She was in a seated position, her head ended on the toilet seat, and her body was between the toilet and the magazine rack, still seated on the magazine rack."
Roux suggested Steenkamp was hit with two “double-tap” bursts of bullets that would not have given her time to scream. “I disagree,” Mangena replied. (HOTD: Roux really needs a credible expert to dispute Mangena on this when the defense presents its case in chief; Mangena's testimony lends credence to the "blood curdling" scream neighbors reported.)
The state's next witness, police Col. Ian van der Nest, said the blood spatter found on the toilet seat confirmed she was already down when the fourth shot hit her.
Col. Michael Sale then took the stand. He is the state's expert who downloaded the two iPads found at the crime scene and confirmed earlier reports that on the afternoon before the shooting, Pistorius had surfed several websites, including a porn site. (HOTD: Meh, he surfed a porn site earlier that day -- not seeing that as related.)
Prosecutors expect to wrap up their case next week. The trial is now expected to continue through mid-April.
Ref:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/ba...z2wVww9WDs