DAY 28 RECAP Oscar Pistorius Recap Day 28 - Defense experts discuss testimony over a beer Ballistics expert Thomas Wollie Wolmarans returned to the witness stand and the whole day focused on the evidence he gave. For the first part of the day, the partially deaf Wolmarans, who suffers from tinnitus, was questioned by defense counsel Barry Roux. Wolmarans theory was that Reeva Steenkamp was standing close behind the toilet door when the first two bullets hit her hip and arm. He believed that she was falling as she was hit by a another bullet that caused a fatal wound to her head. But Wolmarans theory of events differed from the evidence given by the ballistics expert for the prosecution, State Captain Mangena. Mangena had testified that Reeva Steenkamp was standing in the toilet cubicle when she was first hit in the right hip. Mangena believes she then fell to the floor and was then hit in the arm and head as she crossed her arms over her head to protect herself. After questioning from Barry Roux was completed, Wolmarans faced an aggressive cross-examination from prosecutor Gerrie Nel. Bit by bit, Nel began picking at Wolmarans with Wolmarans trying his best to defend his testimony but at times losing his composure as Nel made accusations. Nel questioned Wolmarans about the report he had written. This line of questioning induced the most dramatic exchanges of the day. Wolmarans admitted he did not keep a physical file on the case in his office and just relied on sending files from his computer. He also said the report was too large to send by email so he had printed off a copy. During the dramatic exchanges that followed, Nel asked Wolmarans if he had changed details of his report to better suit the defense case. Wolmarans said the only changes he had made to the report had only been to amend his English and also to remove repetition. But Nel then pressed Wolmarans about whether he had met with Roger Dixon, another defense witness who had already testified. Wolmarans admitted that he and Dixon had gone for a beer together and on another occasion Dixon stopped by briefly to say hello. “I never lied to the court,” he told the judge. He claimed he would not have altered his own report as a result of conversations he had with Dixon. He said Dixon was not a ballistics expert. The prosecution alleges that Pistorius paused between the first and second shots and therefore may have heard Steenkamp scream before he fired the bullet that proved fatal. However, Wolmarans believed the shots were all fired in quick succession, striking Reeva Steenkamp as she was falling. Ultimately it could be whether the judge believes there was a short pause between the first and second shot and a scream before that second shot was fired that decides the fate of Pistorius. But while Nel did extremely well introducing doubt into Wolmarans theory, there were also moments that created outbursts of laughter for those inside the court. Wolmarans was invited to step into the construction in court that depicted the toilet area to better demonstrate his theory. He explained he had had a recent operation to his back so had restricted movement but would try his best. He removed his jacket and walked into the toilet area construction. You cant see me but Im behind the bathroom door, he told Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa. I am in the toilet now, he continued and the court spectators burst into laughter. He provided possible movements to support his theory about how each bullet struck but also said the States explanation for an abrasion on Reevas back does not make sense. The prosecution claims the abrasion was caused by a bullet that ricocheted. Wolmarans says it would have occurred when she fell backwards onto a wooden magazine rack. He said he was not a doctor but it made sense to him. Nel responded that If she fell backward only one shot could have hit her. As testimony continued Wolmarans agreed that some of his testimony was speculation. Nel questioned Wolmarans about the ammunition used while conducting his experiments and where the bullet came from that he had used. Nel stated that to fire one shot at one distance would not give accurate results but Wolmarans claimed he could not obtain more of the same ammunition. Wolmarans also conceded that maybe Pistorius arm had been further away than he believed, but it was very difficult to come to a precise determination about what happened behind the door. Other experts might offer different theories and conclusions. And so another day of evidence concluded. For most, it felt like a long day. courtchatter/2014/05/oscar-pistorius-recap-day-28-defense.html
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 06:15:52 +0000
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