Oscar Pistorius trial: Defence set for closing argument

Lawyers defending South African athlete Oscar Pistorius are to present closing arguments in the murder trial of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux began his concluding remarks on Thursday, when he repeated claims that police had tampered with evidence.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement, argued the athlete “cannot escape” a murder conviction.

Mr Pistorius denies prosecution claims that he deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp.

He says he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door in his home in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, on 14 February last year.

Once concluding arguments are finished, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa is expected to adjourn the trial to consider her ruling.

Analysts say this process could take between a week and a month. BBC