Day 8 for Pistorius case

Darren Fresco testified that the "Blade Runner" was passionate about guns and had recklessly fired a shot from a car, and another inside a packed restaurant.

 

Fresco said he swore at Pistorius in shock when the paralympian fired a shot through the open sun roof of the car they were travelling in on an outing to the Vaal River.

 

"I apologise My Lady, but I asked him if he was fucking mad," Fresco, who was driving, told the Court when State prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked how he reacted.

 

In response Pistorius "just laughed" he said.

 

According to Fresco, Pistorius was furious at the time because a policeman, who had stopped them for speeding, had picked up his pistol after seeing it lying on the seat.

 

Pistorius told the policeman "you can't just touch another man's gun," he said. 

 

Fresco also testified that, at Pistorius's urging, he had lied for him and taken the blame when after the paralympian sprinter took his firearm and accidentally set it off in Tashas restaurant in Johannesburg in January last year.

 

Pistorius is facing a charge of premeditated murder over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

 

He has pleaded not guilty. 

 

The State has also charged him with firearm offences and suggested that the restaurant incident showed the accused to be a man reluctant to take responsibility for his actions.

 

-Sapa