S. Africa prosecutor slams Pistorious 'snowball of lies'

PRETORIA (AA) - South African state prosecutor Gerrie Nel on Thursday accused internationally-recognized Paralympian Oscar Pistorious of giving inconsistent versions of events regarding the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year. "It is just inconceivable my lady for the accused not to mention in his bail application that he had a conversation with the deceased," Nel told the court, presenting the state's closing arguments in the trial. He said the athlete had told so many lies in a short period of time in order to keep his version intact.
Nel added that Pistorious did not strive to give a truthful version of events but was rather more concerned about the implications of his answers.
"This is just a snowball of lies," he insisted.
Pistorious faces four charges, including the murder of Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day (February 14) of last year.
The 27-year-old Paralympian has pleaded not guilty to all charges and insists that he shot at the bathroom door of his home thinking an intruder had entered the house, not realizing his model girlfriend was inside.
"Objectively evaluated there was no perceived attack on the accused," said Nel.
He went on to argue that Pistorious cannot succeed on self-defense if he does not accept that his intention was to shot and kill whoever was in the bathroom.
On Friday Pistorious defense will deliver its concluding argument and the matter will be left to Judge Thokile Masipa to decide.
The trial has taken several months at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
If convicted of murder, Pistorious could face life imprisonment.
Popularly known as the "Blade Runner," Pistorious was born without the fibulas in both of his legs. Before completing his first year, he had to have both his lower limbs amputated.
In 2004, he rose to fame at the age of 17 after winning a gold medal at the Athens Paralympics Games.
The sprinter has since gone on to win several other medals.
Pistorious made history in 2012 by becoming the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics.
By Hassan Isilow