Pistorius Murder Trail: I Heard A Woman Screaming, I Don’t Understand How Pistorius Didn’t- Neighbour Testifies

The first witness to give evidence in Oscar Pistorius’s
murder trial, Michell Burger, who lives on a neighbouring estate, has said on that
night his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp was murdered she heard ‘blood-curdling’
screams from a woman followed by four gunshots.

Ms Burger told how she and her husband had been woken at
around 3am that morning by a womaazn screaming and shouting for help. ‘I was
still sitting in the bed and I heard her screams. She screamed terribly and she
yelled for help with her voice cracking with emotion’, she said. ‘Then I also
heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help. Just after her
screams, I heard four shots. Four gunshots … “Bang …bang, bang,
bang”. Continue after the cut…

‘I could not understand how I could clearly hear a woman
scream, but Mr Pistorius couldn’t hear that. I couldn’t understand that, she
told the court in shock.

Earlier before she gave her evidence, the Paralympian
pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend last year on Valentine’s day and
insisted he thought an intruder had come into his home before he made for his
gun.

Meanwhile Reeva’s 67-year old mom who was also in court told
people that ‘I want to look at Oscar, really look him in the eyes and see for
myself the truth about what he did to Reeva. Whatever the court decides at the
end of his trial, I will be ready to forgive him … But first I want to force
him to look at me, and see the pain and anguish he has inflicted on me. I feel
I need that’, she said. 

Denies
charge: Pistorius speaks to his lawyer Barry Roux before formally pleading not
guilty to murder

Relatives
of Oscar Pistorius wait inside the high court prior to the start of his trial

Emotional: June Steenkamp (left) shows the strain of her
very first encounter with Pistorius as she waits for the start of his trial.
She says she will be ready to forgive him whatever verdict is handed down