Pistorius trial questions Steenkamp screams

Testimony in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius focused on a pillar of the prosecution’s case — screams neighbours said they heard on the night his girlfriend died.

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned an acoustics expert who had been called by the defence team as part of its effort to suggest some neighbours who said they heard the screams of a woman were wrong, and that they actually heard the high-pitched screams of the double-amputee runner.

Several neighbours called by the prosecution have testified they heard a woman’s terrified screams on the night Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp, which could bolster the prosecution’s claim that the couple were arguing before Pistorius opened fire. The defence has suggested the screams came from Pistorius after he realised he had mistakenly shot Steenkamp.