Pistorius should have testified - Nel

2013-02-22 10:45

Pretoria - Oscar Pistorius should have taken the court into his confidence by choosing to testify at his bail hearing, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said as the athlete's bail application continued at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.

"He has the right," said Nel.

Pistorius could have given his version of the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, not just by an affidavit, and been tested on his version of events.

Nel said Pistorius did not appreciate the seriousness of the crime.

"I have not seen anywhere in his affidavit where he says 'I caused a death'," he said.

Pistorius has denied deliberately shooting Steenkamp on 14 February and has said he thought there was a burglar when he fired shots at a toilet door, killing her.

He never said he "at least" caused Steenkamp's death unlawfully, said Nel.

Pistorius has been charged with murder, which he denies.

Nel said that not volunteering to surrender his passport to show he was not a flight risk showed "it was business as usual" for Pistorius.

- See News24's Pistorius Special Report.

- SAPA