Pistorius sought to shift blame for loosed shot: Witness

Third state witness Charl Johnson was temporarily excused from the witness stand by Judge Thokozile Masipa, so that notes he and his wife Michelle Burger, the state’s first witness, could be accessed.

Once the notes, which were made before their testimony, have been accessed, Johnson will return to the witness stand, for defence advocate Barry Rous to continue cross-examining him.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel broke the rhythm of the defence when he called cruiserweight boxer Kevin Lerena to testify about a firearms charge related to an incident at Tasha's restaurant in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg in January last year.

Lerena testified that he had been at Tasha's in the company of Oscar Pistorius, Darren Fresco and sprinter Martin Rooney when a gun that Fresco had passed to Pistorius under the table went off.

Lerena said that he had not seen the gun or Pistorius holding it, but after the shot went off close to the boxer's foot, Pistorius apologised and asked if everyone was okay.

He then asked Fresco to tell the restaurant's management that he had been responsible as Pistorious was worried about media attention.

Advocate Barry Roux asked for an adjournment to prepare for Lerena's cross-examination, arguing that his team had not been properly informed of his testimony. - Tymon Smith