Oscar Pistorius seen shooting in gun range video before killing Reeva Steenkamp
Video shows Oscar Pistorius firing weapons at a gun range before the double-amputee athlete fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.
- Associated Press
- Updated: March 01, 2014 03:38 PM IST
Newly released video shows Oscar Pistorius, who faces a murder trial next week, firing weapons at a gun range before the double-amputee athlete fatally shot his girlfriend last year. Sky News on Friday broadcast footage of Pistorius firing a shotgun and using a pistol to shoot a watermelon, which bursts on impact. Delighted screams and laughter from unidentified people are heard in the background. (Read: Judge rules most of Pistorius trial can be televised)
Sky News also broadcast audio of a man it says "sounds very much" like Pistorius who comments on the shattered watermelon. "It's a lot softer than brain but... it's like a zombie stopper," the man said.
The video of Pistorius shows him wearing sunglasses and gun range headphones. Francois Hougaard, a South African international rugby player, is also seen shooting alongside Pistorius in the video. Sky News did not say exactly when the video was taken, or where. (Read: Pistorius surfed porn before girlfriend was shot: report)
Pistorius' murder trial starts on Monday. The prosecution says Pistorius had a fight with Steenkamp before killing her by firing shots through a door in the bathroom of his home on February 14 last year. He says he shot the model and reality TV star after mistaking her for a dangerous intruder in the night.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Pistorius should he be convicted of murder in Steenkamp's killing, meaning the Olympic runner would have to serve at least 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole. There is no death penalty in South Africa.