One of the judge's two assessors - who will help her reach a decision on the charges - has been taken ill.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said the court in Pretoria was "not properly constituted" in the assessor's absence.

On Tuesday (March 25), the prosecution wrapped up its case against Pistorius, who they allege deliberately shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.

Following a two-day adjournment, the defence team was expected to begin its case today by calling Pistorius to give evidence.

He claims he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and fired four shots through a toilet door.

Three of the bullets hit the 29-year-old model and law graduate, killing her.

Mobile phone analyst Francois Moller gave evidence earlier this week on the content of text messages between Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp ©AFP/Getty Images



The court has heard witness accounts from neighbours of 27-year-old Pistorius, who claim they heard shouting and the screams of a woman before shots were fired.

Detectives linked with the investigation have also taken the witness stand, and earlier this week the court was told of a text message from Steenkamp to Pistorius in which she told him, "I'm scared of you sometimes".

Pistorius' defence team have argued the screams were those of the sprinter,  who competed in the Olympics at London 2012, and claimed the content of mobile phone messages between the couple were overwhelmingly positive.

The trial, which began on March 3, does not have a jury under South African law.