Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, March 25, 2014.
Prosecution Rests in Pistorius Trial; Athlete Expected to Testify
The prosecution has rested in the murder trial of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius.
An attorney for Pistorius says the Olympic runner is expected to testify, after the defense begins its case on Friday.
Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to charges that he intentionally murdered his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.
On Tuesday, Pistorius' lawyers tried to show he had a loving relationship with Steenkamp.
Attorney Barry Roux re-examined a police cell phone expert and had the officer read out affectionate text and phone messages between the couple.
The defense also highlighted closed-circuit TV video from a convenience store that shows the couple kissing.
FILE - An undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Oscar Pistorius' late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot.
A day earlier, the same cell phone expert read out a text message from Steenkamp in which she said she was sometimes afraid of Pistorius' temper.
After court adjourned on Tuesday, Pistorius' attorney Brian Webber told journalists that his legal team did not believe it had a choice but to allow Pistorius to testify. He said the question was "when."
Prosecutors say Pistorius deliberately shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door in his home on February 14, 2013. The athlete says he thought he was shooting at an intruder.
Pistorius gained fame as the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics.
The track star who competed in the 2012 London games is nicknamed "Blade Runner" for his prosthetic legs.
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