By Zjan Shirinian

Oscar Pistorius arrives in court for a fifth day of cross-examination ©Getty ImagesApril 11 - Oscar Pistorius broke down as he was asked whether his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp screamed when he fired the first shot at her.

Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel pressed the six-time Paralympic gold medallist on whether Steenkamp made any noise as he fired the first of four bullets through the toilet door of his Pretoria home.

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

Pistorius says he thought there was an intruder in the toilet and the shooting was an "accident".

Taking around 30 seconds to compose himself before answering the question, Pistorius told the court: "I wish she [Steenkamp] let me know she was there.

"She did not do that."

When Nel asked the 27-year-old whether he was certain she did not scream as the shots were fired, he told the court: "I don't think I would have heard her", adding the sounds of the shots would have been ringing in his ears.

Earlier in the murder trial, neighbours of Pistorius said they heard screaming when shots were fired.

On a fifth day in the witness stand at the court in Pretoria, Pistorius was once again called a "liar" by Nel on a number of occasions as he forensically went through the events of February 14 last year.

Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel was admonished by the judge for calling Oscar Pistorius a liar ©Getty ImagesProsecution lawyer Gerrie Nel was admonished by the judge for calling Oscar Pistorius a liar ©Getty Images



The judge intervened to warn Nel about accusing the athlete of lying, with Pistorius saying discrepancies in his evidence was down to tiredness.

He was then asked whether he could continue giving evidence by the judge, which he said he could.

Examining why Pistorius did not speak to Steenkamp when he thought there was an intruder in his home, Nel said a a "reasonable person" would have done more to make sure his partner "was OK or scared".

Pistorius said he screamed at the intruder to "get out of my house" and at Steenkamp to call the police as he headed towards the bathroom,

Nel said it was "improbable" Steenkmap was in the toilet but did not respond to his shouts.

"She was talking to you, that is why she was standing there before you shot her in the head," said Nel.

"She was scared of you, not an intruder.

"She was scared of you."

Proceedings were adjourned for the week just before the usual lunch break.

Pistorius denies deliberately killing Steenkamp.

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