Police commander testifies against Oscar Pistorius at murder trial

Police commander testifies against Oscar Pistorius at murder trial Ex-commander's testimony aids defense at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial - CNN.com STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Defense assails former officer's credibility as he testifies against PistoriusPhotos seen in court show cocked gun, bloodstains on bathroom floorPolice commander describes scene at Pistorius' home on the night Reeva Steenkamp diedBloody photos flashed on courtroom monitors were too much for Pistorius Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) -- The top police commander on the scene the night that Oscar Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp testified against the Olympic athlete at his murder trial Friday.

But former Col. G.S. van Rensburg may have handed the defense more opportunities to discredit police handling of evidence against Pistorius.

The ballistics expert handling the runner's gun did so without gloves, van Rensburg told the court.

And when van Rensburg confronted him, the expert apologized and fetched gloves.

An expensive watch belonging to Pistorius also disappeared during the initial police search of his house, van Rensburg testified.

Defense looks for forensic mistakes

Pistorius: Cricket bat shown in court

Breaking down the Pistorius evidence

Oscar Pistorius appears in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday, March 3. South Africa's double amputee track star is accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013.

Pistorius won gold for the first time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. He won the 200-meter final and set a new world record. The South African sprinter has been called the "Blade Runner" because of his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs.

Prosthetic legs stand on the ground as Pistorius coaches children in Manchester, England, in April

2006.

Pistorius competes in a 400-meter race in Berlin in June 2008.

Pistorius is seen in Rome during a race in July 2008.

Pistorius wins gold ahead of Americans Jerome Singleton, left, and Marlon Shirley, right, in the 100meter T44 during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Pistorius poses with his medals from the IPC Athletics World Championships in January 2011. He won three world titles there but lost the 100-meter T44 final to Singleton. It was his first loss in a race over 100 meters since the 2004 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius passes the baton to Ofentse Mogawane in a 4x400-meter relay race during the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in September 2011. Pistorius was the first double amputee athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships.

Pistorius races in the men's 400 meters during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Pistorius competes in the London Olympics.

Pistorius carries the South African flag during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter T44 heat at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius poses on the podium with his gold medal after winning the men's 400-meter T44 final at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius receives his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2012.

A picture taken on January 26, 2013, shows Pistorius and Steenkamp at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.

Pistorius leaves the Boshkop police station with his face covered on February 14, 2013.

Pistorius, swamped by the press, leaves a Pretoria courtroom in June.Photos: 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius Photos: 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius HIDE CAPTION

Photos: 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius But probably the key testimony was on Pistorius' bathroom door, which van Rensburg called the most valuable piece of evidence in the case.

The former commander described removing the door, checking that it could be reattached, putting it in a body bag and taking it to his office.

This is critical testimony because the defense argues that the door, as evidence, is contaminated.

If previously given expert testimony based on markings on the door prevails, it could make Pistorius look as though he lied about a detail in his account of events.

Van Rensburg resigned from the police force amid accusations that he mishandled evidence by keeping the door in his office.

In his cross-examination, defense attorney Barry Roux went straight after van Rensburg's credibility, asking him if he understood the importance of telling the truth.

Gruesome images The former police colonel first took the stand Thursday and said paramedics were already there when he arrived at Pistorius' address about 3:55 a.m., but Steenkamp was dead.

As he testified, the prosecution showed more than 100 police photographs taken at Pistorius' house after the killing, including the sprinter's 9 mm handgun, still cocked and ready to fire, on a bloody towel or bathmat on a blood-spattered floor.

Both prosecution and defense accidentally displayed photos of Steenkamp's dead body and mortal wounds Thursday, prompting the man who killed her to be violently sick.

Pistorius threw up after both defense and prosecution lawyers scrolled through evidence photos on monitors to find the ones they wanted to discuss, flashing past the gruesome images as they did so.

There's a monitor directly in front of Pistorius as he sits in the stand, on trial for murder.

The South African Olympic sprinter admits that he killed Steenkamp, his girlfriend of about four months, on Valentine's Day last year but says it was a terrible accident, not premeditated murder.

He shot her through a locked bathroom door in his house, saying he thought she was an intruder, then broke the door down with a cricket bat to get to her when he realized his mistake. She was 29.

South African model Reeva Steenkamp died early on February 14, 2013, after a shooting at the Pretoria home of her boyfriend, Olympian Oscar Pistorius.

This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by "Ice Models" in South Africa shows model Reeva Steenkamp.

Capacity Relations, the agency that represents Steenkamp, announced her death. "She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed," the agency said on Twitter.

The model was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she worked for various companies, including Toyota and cosmetics maker Avon.

Steenkamp, who had a law degree, has also worked as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa and as a FHM covergirl.

Her passion included cars and cooking, and she was set to appear in the Tropika Island of Treasure Show on Saturday, according to the show's website. 0Comments >>SHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious