Grisly new photos have emerged of the bloody crime scene where South African paralympian Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp last Valentine’s Day.
Sky News has obtained the exclusive pictures from inside Pistorius’ house in Pretoria, where the crime occurred.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
The most disturbing image show pools of blood on the floor of the bathroom, a panel missing from the door, and two police markers under the door handle, pointing out bullet holes. The bullet holes are low on the door, which may back up the runner’s claims that he was on his stumps when he shot at someone he believed was an intruder.
The runner says that after a quiet evening with Steenkamp, he got up in the middle of the night to bring a fan in from the balcony and heard a noise. He says he grabbed a gun he kept for security purposes and ran down the hallway to the bathroom, without his prosthetic legs on.
He told a judge at his February bail hearing that he then fired four shots into the closed bathroom door. Pistorius says it wasn’t until he returned to his bedroom and saw that Steemkamp was not in bed that he realized he had shot her in the bathroom.
Pistorius insists he was in love with Steenkamp and the shooting was an accident.
During his court appearance the athlete said once he realized his fatal mistake, he did everything possible to save his lover, including beating the bathroom door with a cricket bat to get to her.
The graphic photos show a trail of blood from the bathroom as Pistorius carried Steenkamp downstairs and shouted for help. There are also pictures of flecks of blood on the wall, the landing and the sofa downstairs.
Another photo shows a container of heart-shaped sweets and a Valentine’s Day gift the model had wrapped for Pistorius, with a card saying “Ozzy,” her nickname for him.
The prosecution maintains that Steenkamp ran into the bathroom after the two had a fight and he deliberately shot her. Authorities say Pistorius took the time to put on his prosthetic limbs before he shot her, which indicates the murder was premeditated.
The pictures were released after allegations that cops involved in the investigation have been questioned following the disappearance of one of Pistorius’ watches from his home. Sky reports there are more allegations that investigators may have tainted evidence.
When contacted by Sky, the South African Police Service had no comment.
Pistorius – who is out on bail-- is scheduled to be in court next Tuesday.