Being cross-examined by prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel for the first time, their opening exchanges set the tone for the rest of the day's proceedings.

"You killed a person, that's what you did," said Nel.

"You shot and killed her, won't you take responsibility?"

Pistorius said he made a "mistake" when he shot the 29-year-old model and law graduate at his home in Pretoria on February 14 last year.

"I shot my firearm before I could think," he told the court.

"I didn't intend to shoot anyone.

"I believed someone was coming out of the toilet."

There were legal arguments when Nel asked a video be shown where Pistorius can be seen shooting a watermelon at a gun range.

In the video, the Paralympic athlete is heard calling the weapon a "zombie stopper" after the watermelon explodes.

Nel then showed on TV screens dotted around the courtroom an image of the head wound suffered by Steenkamp when she was shot by Pistorius through a toilet door.

Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel has put Oscar Pistorius under pressure with fierce questioning ©AFP/Getty Images



The athlete did not look at the picture, with Nel telling him to "take responsibility" for his actions.

"I've taken responsibility, but I will not look at a picture where I am tormented by what I saw and felt that night," the 27-year-old South African said.

"As I picked Reeva up my fingers touched her head, I remember, I don't have to look at a picture I was there," he added sobbing.

As the day's proceedings came to the close, Pistorius was questioned about claims police tampered with items in his home after the shooting.

The day had begun with defence lawyer Barry Roux asking the athlete about the moments after paramedics arrived at his home.

The six-time Paralympic champion said: "They asked for some space to work so I stood up.

"Reeva had already died whilst I was holding her before the ambulance arrived.

"So I knew there was nothing they could do for her."

Pistorius denies deliberately killing Steenkamp, insisting he thought there was an intruder.

He will take the stand for a fourth day when the murder trial resumes tomorrow.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2014: Pistorius breaks down as he describes moment he killed girlfriend
April 2014: "I have terrible nightmares about what happened that night" claims Pistorius
March 2014: Pistorius is just latest in long line of top sportsmen tried for murder or attempted murder
March 2014: Pistorius' appearance on witness stand delayed as murder trial postponed
March 2014: Pistorius case adjourned until Friday after court hears couple's intimate messages