'My nightmares of Steenkamp' Oscar Pistorius begins tear-streaked testimony

PARALYMPIAN athlete Oscar Pistorius sobbed loudly in court today as he began his defence testimony.

His testimony is the first time the double-amputee runner has talked publicly about what happened that night, on Valentine's Day last year.
Pistorius tearfully apologised to the family of Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend and the murder victim of the case.
"There hasn't been a moment since the tragedy happened that I haven't thought about the family," he told the court in Pretoria.
Cross-examined by defence lawyer Barry Roux, he also claimed to have "terrible nightmares" of Ms Steenkamp after the incident, and is taking sleeping pills to cope with the trauma.

“There hasn't been a moment since the tragedy happened that I haven't thought about the family”

Paralympian athlete Oscar Pistorius

South African model Ms Steenkamp, 29, was shot four times by Pistorius through a bathroom door in his house, claiming to have mistaken her for an intruder.
Prior to Pistorius' testimony, pathologist Professor Jan Botha was allowed to testify first due to a family illness.
Pistorius, 27, wept in court as Prof Botha began his testimony.
The defence's case was delayed by more than a week due to the illness of a court official.
Prof Botha claimed that Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp were in his bedroom by 10pm, February 13th, 2013.
It has been established that Pistorius fatally shot Ms Steenkamp, at 3am the next morning.

IN THE DOCK: Pistorius, middle, arriving at the court in Pretoria today [GETTY]

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As Prof Botha gave his testimony, Pistorius cowered in the dock and plugged his ears.
While the prosecution claimed that Steenkamp last ate no more than two hours before her death, Prof Botha said the time frame of digestion was difficult to assess and an "inexact science".
Prof Botha also gave testimony about where Ms Steenkamp was shot, contradicting the prosecution's account.
He claimed that the victim was first shot in the hip, then the arm; followed by a third bullet in her hand and the fourth in her head.
However, the state said Ms Steenkamp was first shot in the hip, but the second bullet missed.
The third bullet hit her arm and the fourth went through her hand and head.
There is no jury in South African court, and two lawyers or retired magistrates assist the judge in serious cases.
The trial continues.