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Day 2 of Pistorius Trial Ends With Neighbor's Cross Examination


A second day of witness testimony has concluded in the murder trial of South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius.

Witness Michelle Burger was cross-examined by defense lawyers Tuesday, a day after testifying that she heard screams, followed by gunshots, then more screams in the early hours of February 14 last year. Burger lives less than 200 meters from Pistorius's Pretoria home.

"I heard that female screaming terribly. Her life was threatened in the house," Burger testified. "I could not imagine her life not being threatened in the house, so it could not be for me. My lady, I was not there so I never saw anything. I could only hear her shouts and her terrible screaming."

Burger's husband and another neighbor of Pistorius also gave testimony Tuesday.

Pistorius has admitted to shooting model Reeva Steenkamp, but said he mistakenly believed he was firing at an intruder. Prosecutors say Pistorius killed Steenkamp after an argument.

On Monday, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, recklessly discharging a firearm and illegally possessing ammunition.

If convicted of premeditated murder, he faces a life sentence.

Pistorius is known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs. In 2012, he became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics.
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