Oscar Pistorius Speaks, Gives His Version Of Reeva Steenkamp’s Death

Pretoria, South Africa – Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He says simply that he thought he was firing at an intruder when he shot and killed her at his home.

BBC reports that in an affidavit read in court Tuesday, Pistorius keeps a 9mm pistol under his bed, because he has been a victim of crime before. During the night, he went out on the balcony, and heard a noise in the bathroom. Pistorius’ account says that he felt a “sense of terror” rush through him.

“Because I did not have my legs on I felt vulnerable. I fired shots through the bathroom door and told Reeva to call police,” the runner’s statement explained. Then, Pistorius realized that Steenkamp was not in bed.

“That’s when it occurred to me that she could have been in the bathroom. The bathroom door was locked. With the benefit of hindsight I realise that Reeva went to the bathroom when I went to close the balcony door,” he explained.

The cricket bat found in the home was used to break down the bathroom door, Pistorius explained.

“Reeva was alive. I took her to the bathroom, called Netcare, picked her up and went downstairs. I tried to revive Reeva but she died in my arms. I am mortified. I trust the South African legal system and the facts will show that I did not murder Reeva.”

News24 reports that Pistorius also said in the statement that he is not a flight risk, that he won’t interfere with witnesses, that he has no previous convictions, and that he is not a violent person. Therefore, keeping him incarcerated would be of “no benefit” to the state.

What do you think? Do you believe Oscar Pistorius’ version of events, or do you think he murdered Reeva Steenkamp?