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- Oscar Pistorius trial: defence case opens - live updates
- Shrien Dewani's extradition welcomed by murdered wife's family
- India election begins as north-east's voters kick off world's largest poll
- Australian free trade agreement with Japan will end tariffs on car imports
- Clive Palmer calls for Campbell Newman to resign after Icac claim
- Seven Network says it suffered reputational damage after AFP raids
- NSW minister says critics are 'going troppo' over Botanic Gardens plan
- WA election fallout as Labor's Mark Bishop lambasts mining and carbon tax
- Indian election 2014: your interactive guide to the world's biggest vote
- Australia-Japan free trade deal is 'within our grasp', Tony Abbott says
- Immigration department accused of intimidating refugee advocate
- Shrien Dewani due to be extradited to South Africa
- If Oscar Pistorius had shot a black man, would anyone care?
- Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes guilty of sexually assaulting young girls
- Father and son shot in inner-city Sydney
- Melbourne's population is Australia's fastest growing, says ABS
- Car crashes through foyer of Gold Coast hospital injuring six people
- MH370: black box-type signals picked up twice by Australia's Ocean Shield
- India elections: domination of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty under threat
- Indian general election: a brief guide
- Meet the affluent Indians mixing election chat with chenin blanc
- Solomon Islands flash floods kill at least 19 people
- Healthcare in Lesotho at risk as hospital threatens to bankrupt health budget - video
- Half of Lesotho health budget goes to private consortium for one hospital
- Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens unveils 25-year redevelopment plan
| Oscar Pistorius trial: defence case opens - live updates Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:22 AM PDT Defence case begins in trial of Pistorius for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, with a pathologist expected to take the stand.
Some quick context as to Botha's evidence. The state pathologist, Professor Gert Saayman, told the prosecution case that Steenkamp most likely ate two hours before her death at 3am, which appeared to counter Pistorius's version that the pair had gone to bed at 10pm, meaning he was disoriented and woken from sleep when he shot her.
The defence questioning of Botha is now over, and he is being fairly rigorously cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Gerrie Nel, largely on quite technical issues about the nature of abrasions.
Pistorius has, again, been badly affected by evidence about Steenkamp's injuries and death. Botha: "Shots could have been discharged in the space of four seconds. I think it's highly unlikely she would have been able to call out." Botha: "Before she was in a position to react, the remaining bullets would have struck her." #Pistorius retching in the dock again.
Botha is now describing the effect of the gunshots on Steenkamp. The shot to the hip would have caused instability, while that to the arm would have stopped the arm working, he says. The shot to the head would have caused almost instant unconsciousness. He says: "I don't think she would have survived much longer." It would be unlikely Steenkamp could have reacted by calling or screaming if the shots were fired in rapid succession, he says.
#Pistorius is slumped forward in dock with head in hands.
This contradicts the prosecution evidence that Steenkamp was sitting on the magazine rack when the second shot struck her, Roux notes. Botha agrees, saying he thinks the evidence points otherwise.
Roux is now taking Botha onto the issue of wound ballistics. The pathologist is asked if he can ascertain the chronology of the shots which struck Steenkamp, and replies that he believes he can. Botha says the first shot was the one over the right hip, which happened when Steenkamp was standing near the door. This was also the prosecution's opinion. She then fell forward and was struck on the right arm by a second shot, Botha says.
As those who are watching the live video feed will have noted, Prof Botha is not being pictured giving evidence all the images are of other sections of the court, mainly Roux and the judge, plus occasional cutaways to Pistorius. That would appear to indicate that when Pistorius himself takes the stand we might only hear his voice, and not see him in the stand.
A quick note: my colleague, David Smith, is at today's hearing, and is live tweeting the evidence, as here. Botha on emptying of stomach after meal: "The modern consensus is it is a highly controversial and inexact science." #Pistorius
Botha tells the court he has conducted thousands of post mortem examinations where people have been shot. He is now being asked by Roux about the physical phenomenon called gastric emptying, as a way of determining the time between a last meal and death. This was cited by Prof Gert Saayman, who performed the post mortem on Reeva Steenkamp and spoke as a prosecution witness, and said Steenkamp could have eaten her last meal about two hours before her death. Botha, however, says it is an inexact procedure, with all sorts of factors which can change the process, and thus affect calculations of time of death. It is so imprecise as to effectively be "speculation", Botha says.
Pisorius's defence counsel, Barry Roux, is talking Botha through his qualifications and experience as a pathologist, which are extensive.
The hearing has opened. My video feed is a bit patchy, and it began part-way through the opening statement. Prof Botha is being called. Judge Thokozile Masipa asks if there are any objections to his being the first defence witnesses. There are not and he is sworn in.
While we await the start of proceedings, here is a piece by Sandile Memela for the Guardian Africa network, which asks the question: had Pistorius killed a black man, would it be an issue? I don't think so. I believe there wouldnt have been a trial. Instead, he would have been hailed as a hero: Here is a man who did good by shooting to kill a black thief! Everyone would have understood and accepted that crime has reached intolerable levels in our society. The perpetrators are often black men who are unemployed and poor. And they deserve to be shot down in cold blood for disturbing the peace of suburban life?
You will, of course, see that we have a live video feed of today's hearing at the top of the page. It's currently showing the outside of the courtroom, but will move inside once proceedings begin.
My colleague, David Smith, has previewed today's hearing, and what we can possibly expected from the first defence evidence: Pistorius will be back in the glare of the world's media when his murder trial resumes on Monday but, in an unorthodox legal move, he will not be the first witness for his own defence... Instead he is expected to follow Prof Jan Botha, a pathologist, on the stand at the high court in Pretoria...
Today the trial of Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympic and Olympic runner, for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, enters a new and crucial phase with the opening of the 27-year-old's defence case. We had 15 days of prosecution testimony up to 28 March, after which the trial was postponed today, due to the illness of a judge's assistant.       |
| Shrien Dewani's extradition welcomed by murdered wife's family Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:03 AM PDT Family hopes for justice for Anni Dewani after businessman to face questions in South Africa over wife's murder on honeymoon The extradition of honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani after a long legal battle has brought the prospect of justice for his dead wife a "step closer", her family has said. Anish Hindocha, Anni Dewani's brother, said there were still questions to be answered over the death of his 28-year-old sister in South Africa in November 2010. Continue reading... |
| India election begins as north-east's voters kick off world's largest poll Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:51 AM PDT Remote regions first of half billion voters at ballots BJP favourite to get most votes, but majority unlikely Rahul Gandhi's Congress facing worst-ever result The Indian election the world's biggest exercise in democracy has begun, with millions in the country's remote north-east going to the polls. Over coming weeks more than half a billion people are expected to visit 930,000 polling stations, all set up within two miles of their homes. Recent opinion surveys predict a big win for the Hindu nationalist opposition the Bharatiya Janata party whose prime ministerial candidate is the controversial Narendra Modi though not an absolute majority in the 545 seat lower house of the national assembly. Continue reading...      |
| Australian free trade agreement with Japan will end tariffs on car imports Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:50 AM PDT Australian trade minister says 'historic' deal will bring down the price of cars, but does not reveal beef tariff concessions Australia has sealed a free trade agreement with Japan after seven years of negotiation. The Australian trade minister, Andrew Robb, confirmed the bilateral pact had been signed late on Monday afternoon in Tokyo, and he pointed to a looming reduction in car prices for Australian consumers as a consequence. Continue reading...      |
| Clive Palmer calls for Campbell Newman to resign after Icac claim Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:31 AM PDT NSW corruption inquiry hears Newman met with Australian Water Holdings after $5,000 re-election donation was made Clive Palmer has called for the Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, to resign after a corruption inquiry heard that a company linked to the Obeids and Arthur Sinodinos paid $5,000 for its chief executive to meet Newman when he was lord mayor of Brisbane. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has heard NSW Liberal fundraiser Paul Nicolaou facilitated a meeting between the Australian Water Holdings (AWH) chief executive Nick Di Girolamo and Newman in 2007. The @theqldpremier should resign over claims he demanded $5k for a meeting when Brisbane Lord Mayor https://t.co/gkS0anjo0B #qldpol #auspol Continue reading...      |
| Seven Network says it suffered reputational damage after AFP raids Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:27 AM PDT Federal police raids over Schapelle Corby impacted adversely on Seven West Media share price, Senate inquiry told The Seven Network has told a Senate inquiry it suffered significant damage to its reputation following raids by federal police looking for evidence of a supposed deal with convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby. The search warrants police used were subsequently quashed by a federal court judge, who found the issuing magistrate had been materially misled. Continue reading... |
| NSW minister says critics are 'going troppo' over Botanic Gardens plan Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:15 AM PDT Environment minister says people should engage in discussion about park's future after Paul Keating labelled plans an 'atrocity' Instead of going troppo people should engage in discussion about a proposed update to Sydneys Botanic Gardens and the Domain, a NSW government minister has suggested after former prime minister Paul Keating attacked the plans as an atrocity. The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust on Sunday revealed a draft master plan for the parkland on the edge of Sydney harbour the first in almost 200 years. Continue reading...      |
| WA election fallout as Labor's Mark Bishop lambasts mining and carbon tax Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:02 AM PDT Outgoing senator says Greens well on way to replacing Labor as the progressive party in WA Labor has indulged in a bout of finger-pointing and public recrimination after managing to attract only 22% of the primary vote in the West Australian Senate election re-run at the weekend. The outgoing Labor senator, Mark Bishop, who is from the same faction and influential trade union power bloc as the controversial lead ALP candidate, Joe Bullock but was effectively dumped in a bruising preselection battle in 2013 went on morning radio in an attempt to distance himself from the poor result. Continue reading...      |
| Indian election 2014: your interactive guide to the world's biggest vote Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:02 AM PDT The world's largest democracy begins voting on Monday, pitting the favourite Narendra Modi against Rahul Gandhi, scion of India's most famous political dynasty. Here, we look at how the election works, which minor players may upset the frontrunners, and what the various outcomes might be India's general election, which starts on 7 April, will be the largest vote ever held. About 814,500,000 people will have a ballot, and around 20% of these will be eligible for the first time. Turnout has traditionally been in the region of 55%. Continue reading... |
| Australia-Japan free trade deal is 'within our grasp', Tony Abbott says Posted: 06 Apr 2014 11:41 PM PDT PM says deal would benefit consumers, but farmers want government to hold out unless Japan cuts beef tariffs Australias prime minister, Tony Abbott, says a bilateral free trade deal with Japan is now within our grasp. The prime minister has used a lunchtime address in Tokyo to point to an imminent announcement on a free trade pact between Australia and Japan hinting the long-anticipated economic partnership will lower the tariffs imposed on Australian food exports, and on the Japanese-produced manufactured goods purchased by Australian consumers. Continue reading...      |
| Immigration department accused of intimidating refugee advocate Posted: 06 Apr 2014 11:36 PM PDT Department demanded through Twitter that advocate remove third-party post on her Facebook wall The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has been accused of monitoring a refugee advocates social media and publicly intimidating her, after demanding through Twitter that she remove a third-party post on her Facebook wall. Vanessa Powell, an advocate who attended protests outside Villawood detention centre in Sydney last Thursday, was tweeted three times in public by the department on Friday over an offensive remark directed at a staff member that was posted on her Facebook wall underneath a photograph of a coach transferring asylum seekers last Thursday. Continue reading...      |
| Shrien Dewani due to be extradited to South Africa Posted: 06 Apr 2014 11:00 PM PDT Briton accused of organising wife's murder is expected to fly from Heathrow on Monday and to appear in court on Tuesday A British businessman accused of organising his wife's murder while on honeymoon in Cape Town is due to be flown to South Africa this week after a hard-fought legal battle against extradition. Shrien Dewani, 34, a care-home owner from Bristol, will reportedly fly from London Heathrow airport on Monday night and is expected to make a brief court appearance the following day. Continue reading...      |
| If Oscar Pistorius had shot a black man, would anyone care? Posted: 06 Apr 2014 11:00 PM PDT Athlete's defence highlights how cheap the lives of black South Africans have become, says Sandile Memela On Valentines day last year Oscar Pistorius fired four fatal shots at close range through a locked bathroom door, thinking he was hitting an intruder or so he wants the judge and the world to believe. Had he killed a black man, would it be an issue? Continue reading...      |
| Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes guilty of sexually assaulting young girls Posted: 06 Apr 2014 10:35 PM PDT After three days, jury hands down guilty verdicts on nine of the 11 charges against Hughes Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes has been found guilty of sexually and indecently assaulting young girls. After almost 12 hours of deliberation over three days, the jury handed down guilty verdicts on nine of the 11 charges against Hughes. Continue reading...      |
| Father and son shot in inner-city Sydney Posted: 06 Apr 2014 10:28 PM PDT Police believe Pyrmont shooting was a targeted attack and say victims were known to them A father and son have been shot in an inner-city Sydney street. Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack and say the victims were known to them. Witnesses heard up to eight shots on Sunday night before finding a 49-year-old man, understood to be Michael Smart, lying in Jones Street in Pyrmont in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to his head. His 23-year-old son Josh, an aspiring boxer, was shot in the back. Continue reading...      |
| Melbourne's population is Australia's fastest growing, says ABS Posted: 06 Apr 2014 10:01 PM PDT Melbourne has been growing faster than Sydney over the past decade, and will be Australias most populous city in 2053 The heart of Melbourne is growing faster than any other area in Australia, as strong population growth in inner cities across the country contrasts with dwindling numbers in regional areas. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on population trends show the statistical division of Melbourne was the fastest growing area in the country in the year to June 2013, with numbers surging by 22.7% to 29,300. The districts surrounding Melbournes CBD also experienced rapid growth, with Docklands and Southbank both growing by 15% and North Melbourne growing by 6%. Slightly further afield, Abbotsford grew by 19%. Continue reading...      |
| Car crashes through foyer of Gold Coast hospital injuring six people Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:52 PM PDT Police investigating accident at Gold Coast University Hospital, which injured the driver and five bystanders A car has crashed through a Gold Coast hospital foyer, injuring six people. The car ploughed through glass windows and into bystanders at Gold Coast University Hospital on Monday morning. Continue reading...      |
| MH370: black box-type signals picked up twice by Australia's Ocean Shield Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:49 PM PDT Search chief says vessel's discovery is most promising lead, though not yet confirmation of the location of the plane A signal consistent with transmissions from the black box flight recorder and cockpit voice recorder of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight was picked up for more than two hours in the Indian Ocean, according to the head of Australias joint agency co-ordination centre. In what may be one of the most promising leads yet in the search for the missing flight, the head of the Australian joint agency co-ordination centre, Angus Houston, announced on Monday that the Australian defence vessel Ocean Shield detected two separate signals within the northern part of the search area. Continue reading...      |
| India elections: domination of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty under threat Posted: 06 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT The decades-long reign of 'the Family' is being undermined, even in its heartland, by parties and voters ready for a new era The village of Ikror is down a pitted track, three miles from the nearest town and surrounded by fields filled with wheat in winter and rice in the monsoon. Children climb trees in its dusty main square to shake down the hard green Indian plums. There is little to distinguish it from the other 600,000 or so villages in India apart from the fact that it lies in Amethi, a district in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh that has been the bastion of India's foremost political dynasty for generations. Continue reading...      |
| Indian general election: a brief guide Posted: 06 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT Conducting the largest election ever involves the work of about 5 million people, with approximately 800 million eligible to vote India's general election, which starts on 7 April, will be the largest vote ever held. About 800 million voters will have a ballot, and of them about 20% will be eligible for the first time. Turnout has traditionally been in the region of 55%. So vast is the democratic exercise that it will require about 5 million people to conduct the procedure, and as many again to police it. Voting will take place over a number of phases lasting several weeks, and the electoral commission has stated that no voter should have to travel more than one mile to a polling station, and no station should serve more than 1,500 voters. The election takes place on nine days over six weeks. Voting starts in the more remote hill and mountain districts of the far north-east before moving into restive central upland areas and then broadly shifting further west and south. Continue reading...      |
| Meet the affluent Indians mixing election chat with chenin blanc Posted: 06 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT What these aspirational workers crave are sweeping changes to a political system lagging behind the booming private sector As the dawn chirping of crickets yields to the raucous cries of crows, chauffeur-driven BMWs and luxury sedans overtake tractors and cyclists on the narrow roads crisscrossing western India's wine country. They sweep past vineyard workers in red and pink saris, clipping pale green bunches of chenin blanc grapes and piling them into plastic crates. At the end of a picturesque driveway, past a neat vineyard, the cars disgorge a group of thirtysomethings with branded backpacks and designer sunglasses. Continue reading...      |
| Solomon Islands flash floods kill at least 19 people Posted: 06 Apr 2014 04:14 PM PDT Forty people are missing and 49,000 homeless after entire communities washed away following heavy rains Devastating flash floods in the Solomon Islands have killed at least 19 people, while 40 are still missing and an estimated 49,000 people are homeless. Entire riverside communities and bridges were washed away when the Matanikau river in Honiara broke its banks on Thursday. The government declared a state of emergency. Continue reading...      |
| Healthcare in Lesotho at risk as hospital threatens to bankrupt health budget - video Posted: 06 Apr 2014 04:01 PM PDT A Lesotho hospital which was built using public and private financing is criticised by Oxfam as it deprives poor, rural areas of funding. 51% of the African country's health budget goes to the consortium running the Queen Mamohato memorial hospital, which was designed to improve healthcare standards. Other countries in Africa are being warned not to repeat Lesotho's mistake Continue reading...       |
| Half of Lesotho health budget goes to private consortium for one hospital Posted: 06 Apr 2014 04:01 PM PDT Oxfam warns that Queen Mamohato hospital, built on advice of arm of World Bank, is drawing off money needed for rural clinics A flagship hospital built in Lesotho using public/private financing with advice from an arm of the World Bank threatens to bankrupt the impoverished African country's health budget. Continue reading...      |
| Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens unveils 25-year redevelopment plan Posted: 06 Apr 2014 03:54 PM PDT $130m scheme includes five-star hotel in the Domain, a children's garden, new walkways and educational centres Sydneys Royal Botanic Gardens Trust has unveiled the draft of its 25-year redevelopment for the gardens and the Domain, which includes a multimillion-dollar five-star hotel. A walkway at Mrs Macquaries Point will connect visitors with the water, while redevelopment of its historic buildings will provide them with new facilities and amenities. Continue reading...      |
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