Oscar Pistorius should have taken the court into his confidence by testifying at his bail hearing, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said as the athlete’s bail application continued at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
“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 Valentine’s Day 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.
