Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete denies threatening millionaire TV producer over former lover Samantha Taylor
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Oscar Pistorius denied he threatened to hurt South African millionaire Quinton van der Burgh in a jealous spat over former girlfriend Samantha Taylor.
Returning to the witness box, the athlete claimed he told Mr van der Burgh he had "no respect" for him after he found out the pair went on holiday together while he was at the London Olympics but insisted he did not threaten to hurt him.
He told Pretoria's High Court: "I didn't threaten him in any manner, I him told exactly what I thought about him, I didn't swear at him, there were many, many people around, and he didn't even reply. I turned around and left."
Pistorius went on to say it was clear Mr van der Burgh "wanted to pick a fight" and later sent him a legal letter asking for his address in an effort to intimidate him.
He also denied he ever shouted at Ms Taylor, who previously told the court he "screamed angrily" at her and denied he sounds like a woman. Pistorius insisted he called off the relationship because it wasn't working.
At the start of the trial, Ms Taylor accused him of cheating on her with Reeva Steenkamp. The athlete insisted that the relationship was over when he met Ms Steenkamp in November 2012.
Yesterday, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Pistorius of lying and tailoring his version of events in the run-up to Ms Steenkamp's death in the early hours of 14 February. Mr Nel, known as the 'pit bull' challenged his claim that the crime scene was contaminated and objects were moved in his bedroom.
The location of the duvet and the large tripod fan, as shown in the crime scene photographs, which he insists was altered, would have blocked him en route to the balcony, where he claims he called for help after shooting Ms Steenkamp, and contradict his version of events.
He denies murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder after he heard the sound of window "sliding open" and a door slamming shut which convinced a burglar was inside his bedroom.
The case continues.