Pistorius: I Thought Reeva Was in Bed When I Fired

Says he wanted to protect 'deeply' loved girlfriend
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 19, 2013 7:18 AM CST
Pistorius: I Thought Reeva Was in Bed When I Fired
Oscar Pistorius stands following his bail hearing, as his brother Carl, left, and father Henke, second left, look on in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013.   (AP Photo)

As Reeva Steenkamp's family paid their final respects today, Oscar Pistorius doubled down on his claim that he thought he was shooting a burglar through his bathroom door, reports the AP. "We were in our bedroom. She was doing her yoga exercises. I was watching television," he said in an affidavit read at his bail hearing today, according to the BBC. Later, "I heard a noise in my bathroom. I felt a sense of terror. I believed that someone had entered my house. I grabbed my 9mm pistol" and shot through the door—then realized that Steenkamp wasn't in bed.

Contrary to the prosecutor's claim, Pistorius says he wasn't wearing his prosthetic legs when he fired his gun; indeed, he says he "felt extremely vulnerable" because of that very fact. "I had to protect Reeva and myself ... I had limited mobility on my stumps," reads his statement. He says he only put them on after shooting at the door and realizing his bed was empty—and then broke down the door with a cricket bat to find Steenkamp inside. Pistorius says he "picked Reeva up as I'd been told not to wait for the paramedics. She died in my arms." "I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said. (More Oscar Pistorius stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X