Oscar Pistorius 'fired gun in restaurant' a month before killing girlfriend

The court heard that Pistorius fired a gun in a restaurant and asked his friend to take the blame for it.

16:42 06 March 2014

The Oscar Pistorius murder trial case has now heard that the accused fired a gun in a restaurant a month before killing his girlfriend. Cruiserweight fighter Kevin Lerena, who got shot in the incident, gave his testimony saying that he and several others were dining with the Paralympic star in Johannesburg on January 13 last year.

He said: "There was blood on my toe. I went to the bathroom. I was shocked.

"Oscar apologised. I remember that I was in shock. I've never been in a confined area where a gunshot has gone off by accident.

"(Pistorius) told Fresco: 'Tell them it was you, I don't want any more media hype around me.'"

Restaurant manager Jason Loupis, who was working the night of the incident, confirmed the story. He said that he heard a bang. He continued: "I went over to the table and asked them what had happened," he said. "They all looked at me and I asked them again: 'Guys, seriously what is going on?'

"Fresco then said that the gun had fallen out of his pants. It was serious. Someone could have got hurt."

The Oscar Pistorius murder trial is expected to last for three weeks and will hear from more than 100 witnesses. If found guilty, the athlete could be jailed for over 25 years.