I did not pick on Steenkamp -Pistorius

    
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has denied “picking on” his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, as his cross-examination continues.

He was commenting on a mobile phone message Steenkamp had sent him.

The Paralympian also denied ever shouting at her and regretted never telling Steenkamp he loved her.

Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend, saying he accidentally killed her after mistaking her for an intruder.

Prosecutors say Pistorius intentionally killed Steenkamp on February 14 last year by firing a gun through a bathroom door at her after a row at his Pretoria home.

The 27-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate.

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as the “bull terrier” in South Africa for his fierce questioning, has suggested that Pistorius was only concerned about himself during their relationship.

“It was all about you Pistorius,” he said, repeatedly.

The BBC’s Karin Giannone at court in Pretoria say Nel is trying to give an impression that the Paralympic athlete is self-centred, contemptuous of his girlfriend, and lacking responsibility.

Pistorius has generally remained calm under Thursday’s cross-examination, in contrast to previous days when he has burst into tears and been sick.

Nel suggested that Pistorius should have apologised to Steenkamp’s family in private, rather than in court as he opened his defence on Monday.

The athlete replied that he had not had the opportunity and had been unable to find the correct words.

When Nel noted that in Monday’s apology, Pistorius did not say he was sorry for killing Ms Steenkamp, the athlete replied: “I’m terribly sorry that I took the life of their daughter”.

In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mirror newspaper, her mother, June, said the apology “left me unmoved. I knew it was coming”.

She said: “He has been very dramatic, the vomiting and crying… I don’t know whether he’s acting.”

In court, Steenkamp shook her head as Pistorius was taken through several Whatsapp messages, which Steenkamp had sent.