All eyes on Roux for closing arguments

Defence lawyers Kenny Oldwage (left) and Barry Roux (right) listen during the closing arguments in the trial of Oscar Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on August 7, 2014. Picture: Werner Beukes

Defence lawyers Kenny Oldwage (left) and Barry Roux (right) listen during the closing arguments in the trial of Oscar Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on August 7, 2014. Picture: Werner Beukes

Published Aug 8, 2014

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Johannesburg -

Final arguments will be heard at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday by Oscar Pistorius's defence team.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel completed his closing arguments on Thursday.

He described Pistorius as a deceitful and dishonest person, who would rather hide behind untruths than admit he murdered his girlfriend in cold blood.

Nel said Pistorius was an appalling witness who tailored his evidence to avoid prosecution. He dismissed several points of Pistorius's testimony as improbable and untruthful.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux spent the last half hour of Thursday's proceedings dismissing Nel's arguments. He accused the State of being selective in the evidence it chose to accept and consider for its case and of ignoring crucial matters raised in the trial.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his model and law-graduate girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He shot and killed her through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.

He alleged he mistook her for an intruder.

The State has submitted that Pistorius intentionally shot her after an argument.

Nel said Pistorius tailored his evidence because he was concerned with the implications of his answers.

Roux was expected to conclude his closing arguments on Friday. - Sapa

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