Pistorius Hammered About Reeva's Last Meal

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel hammered Oscar Pistorius on the details of the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed, asking about everything from the placement of her clothing on the floor to Pistorius' tone of voice. "Remember, the theme for the day is [that you have been] tailoring your evidence," Nel said, per NBC News, with the New York Times reporting that Nel opened the day by saying he was determined to establish that Pistorius was offering a "concocted version of events." The paper noted Pistorius' "racking sobs" on the stand. Among the day's highlights:

• Nel asked Pistorius why food in Steenkamp's stomach suggested she'd eaten two hours before she died, though Pistorius has long said the two had dinner eight hours prior to her death. "I don't have an explanation for it," Pistorius said, as Nel continued to press the issue.
• Nel also said the placement of Steenkamp's jeans and flip-flops suggested that she intended to leave, ostensibly after an argument. "The denims are inside out, so it would make sense that is when she took them off," said the athlete.

• The prosecutor asked about a 2012 tweet by Pistorius, since deleted, NBC notes: "Nothing like getting home to hear the washing machine on and thinking its an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry!" Nel asked whether Pistorius was "trained for combat mode," noting that "being a trained person, the court will expect you not to fire without reason."
• Pistorius said that after hearing a window slam, he got up and grabbed his gun as he told Steenkamp to "get down and call the police," the Times reports. In a statement for police, Nel noted, Pistorius had said he whispered to Steenkamp; in court the athlete said he used a "lowered tone." "I must have made a mistake by saying 'whispered,'" Pistorius said. "I was on medication. I was traumatized."
• “I don't want to argue with Mr. Nel," Pistorius said at one point. Nel's reply: “I want to, Mr. Pistorius."

(More Oscar Pistorius stories.)