Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial continues in South Africa, as prosecutors present text exchanges between him and his late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp that point to an often-tense relationship.
In the text messages presented by the prosecution, Steenkamp expresses a frustration and fear of Pistorius’ temperament. She accuses him of throwing “tantrums” and writes, “I’m scared of you sometimes,” reported ABC News.
"You have picked on me excessively … I do everything to make you happy and you do everything to throw tantrums …,” Steenkamp wrote in a message roughly three weeks before Pistorius shot her through his bathroom door. "I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and of how you will react to me. You make me happy ninety percent of the time and I think we are amazing together … but I am not some other b—h … trying to kill your vibe…"
“I'm the girl who fell in love with you but I'm also the girl who gets side-stepped when you are in a s–t mood,” Steenkamp added. “I get snapped at and told my accent and voices are annoying."
One of the main issues that seemed to plague the couple was Pistorius’ jealousy. He apparently didn’t appreciate hearing about Steenkamp’s past relationships, and he especially didn’t like when she gave other men attention.
"We are living in a double standard relationship. Every five seconds I hear about how you dated another chick,” said Steenkamp about the dynamic between them. “You really have dated a lot of people yet you get upset if I mention one funny story with a long-term boyfriend."
“I was not flirting with anyone today,” Steenkamp wrote after an engagement party the couple attended. “I feel sick that you suggested it … I am terribly disappointed how the day ended. I can't be attacked by outsiders for dating you and be attacked by you, the one person I deserve protection from."
After the prosecution presented the aforementioned texts in court, the defense presented a number of other text messages exchanged between the couple – ones that presented the happier times in the relationship. Police expert Francois Moller conceded that roughly 90% of the text exchanges between the two were normal and affectionate.
Moller read out an exchange that started with Steenkamp writing, "Truth is, i miss you,” and Pistorius replying, "I'm missing you so, so much!"
The prosecution, believing the impact of the troubling texts to be of greater impact than any easygoing ones that the defense presented, has rested its case. Lead prosecutor Gerrie Nell decided on Monday that they had done enough to have Pistorius convicted of premeditated murder in Steenkamp's death on Valentine’s Day 2013. The prosecution only ended up calling 21 of their possible 107 witnesses.
The defense team, led by Barry Roux, will pick up with their arguments on Friday. It’s possible that the trial could stretch into May.
If convicted of premediated murder, Pistorius, who claims he shot and killed Steenkamp after mistaking her for a burglar, will face 25 years-to-life in prison. His fate will be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa.
– Chelsea Regan
For More Pistorius Trial News:
> Oscar Pistorius Trial Update: Bathroom Door Presented As Evidence In Court
> Oscar Pistorius Trial Update: Athlete Vomits In Court As Reeva Steenkamp Autopsy Details Are Given
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