South African runner Oscar Pistorius has testified he did not intend to kill his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, or anyone else the night he shot her last year.
In his third day on the witness stand Wednesday, the prosecution began a tough cross-examination by pressing Pistorius to say he takes responsibility for her killing.
He broke down in tears after lead prosecutor Gerrie Nel displayed a graphic picture of Steenkamp's bloodied head and told Pistorius to look at it.
"I know you don't want to because you don't want to take responsibility, but it's time that you look at it. Take responsibility for what you've done, Mr. Pistorius."
"My lady, I've taken responsibility by me waiting and not wanting to live my life, but waiting for my time on this stand to tell my story for the respect of Reeva and for myself, I've taken responsibility, but I will not look at a picture where I'm tormented by what I saw and felt that night. As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head. I remember. I don't have to look at a picture, I was there."
Pistorius said earlier he "made a terrible mistake" in taking Reeva's life.
He began his testimony Wednesday recounting the moments after shooting, saying he felt "helpless" while waiting for paramedics to arrive at his Pretoria home.
"Reeva had already died while I was holding her, before the ambulance arrived, so I knew that there was nothing that they could do for her."
Pistorius has told the court he thought he was shooting at an intruder when he fired through a locked bathroom door.
Prosecutors say Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of pre-meditated murder and three firearm-related offenses. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
Pistorius is known as the "blade runner" for his prosthetic legs. He became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics when he ran at the 2012 games in London.
In his third day on the witness stand Wednesday, the prosecution began a tough cross-examination by pressing Pistorius to say he takes responsibility for her killing.
He broke down in tears after lead prosecutor Gerrie Nel displayed a graphic picture of Steenkamp's bloodied head and told Pistorius to look at it.
"I know you don't want to because you don't want to take responsibility, but it's time that you look at it. Take responsibility for what you've done, Mr. Pistorius."
"My lady, I've taken responsibility by me waiting and not wanting to live my life, but waiting for my time on this stand to tell my story for the respect of Reeva and for myself, I've taken responsibility, but I will not look at a picture where I'm tormented by what I saw and felt that night. As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head. I remember. I don't have to look at a picture, I was there."
Pistorius said earlier he "made a terrible mistake" in taking Reeva's life.
He began his testimony Wednesday recounting the moments after shooting, saying he felt "helpless" while waiting for paramedics to arrive at his Pretoria home.
"Reeva had already died while I was holding her, before the ambulance arrived, so I knew that there was nothing that they could do for her."
Pistorius has told the court he thought he was shooting at an intruder when he fired through a locked bathroom door.
Prosecutors say Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of pre-meditated murder and three firearm-related offenses. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
Pistorius is known as the "blade runner" for his prosthetic legs. He became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics when he ran at the 2012 games in London.