Police forensic expert testifies in Oscar murder trial

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

A senior police officer at the forensic science laboratory took the stand in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday.

Colonel Johannes Vermeulen is the commander of the material analysis sub-section, and was questioned by prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

He testified that a cricket bat has been used against the door of the toilet through which Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Analysis showed that the Lazer English Willow, covered with signatures, was the bat that was used against the door.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked Vermeulen to swing the bat as though he wanted to strike the brown, wooden door.

The point where the bat touched the door was higher than the mark made when Pistorius struck the door with the bat.

Vermeulen had to enlist the help of a police officer and Col Ian van der Nest to measure the height of the marks with a measuring tape.

The existing mark, indicated with a white sticker, was 1.53m.

The point where Vermeulen would have connected with the door was about 1.85m.

To make the mark at 1.53m he would have had to bend over and swing the bat.

"It's quite an uncomfortable position," said Vermeulen.

He then got onto his knees and swung the bat again. The point where the bat met the door was around 1.25m, suggesting Pistorius may have been on his stumps at
the time.

Pistorius has admitted shooting Steenkamp dead, but said he thought there was an intruder in the house when he fired four shots through the toilet door while she was in there.

He then took a cricket bat to break the door down.