A desperate Oscar Pistorius will take the stand when his defense lawyers present their case in his premeditated murder trial in the fatal shooting of his pretty blond girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
“I don’t think we have a choice. The question is when,” defense lawyer Brian Webber told reporters at the High Court in Pretoria Tuesday when asked about Pistorius testifying.
Webber spoke after the prosecution rested its case in the “Blade Runner’s” trial.
The defense will begin its case Friday, and Pistorius’ lead attorney, Barry Roux, has made it clear Pistorius would take the stand at some point — possibly even as his opening witness.
Earlier Tuesday, Roux argued that Pistorius was deeply in love with Steenkamp — right up until he shot her three times at close range as she cowered in fear behind his locked bathroom door.
Roux said the vast majority of the roughly 1,700 text messages between the two that were entered into evidence showed they had a loving relationship.
But chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that many messages of affection between the couple were brief, in contrast to the texted arguments, which were far longer and dwelled on their troubled relationship in greater depth.