US To Impose Sanctions On Russian Officials

US Issues Rebuttal Of 'Putin's Ukraine Fiction'

Updated: 3:45pm UK, Thursday 06 March 2014

Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, the US has issued a blunt rebuttal of Vladimir Putin's assertions.

In a point-by-point fact sheet, the State Department spoke of "President Putin's Fiction".

It even quoted Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, saying: "The world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote,''The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

The "10 False Claims" statement follows a defiant press conference by the Russian president two days ago.

Russia, for its part, said the fact sheet represented a "primitive distortion of reality".

"It's clear that in Washington, as before, they are unable to accept a situation developing not according to their templates," said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Here is the full text of the US rebuttal:

As Russia spins a false narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine, the world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, "The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

Below are 10 of President Vladimir Putin's recent claims justifying Russian aggression in the Ukraine, followed by the facts that his assertions ignore or distort.

1. Mr Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is "citizens' defense groups," not Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.

2. Mr Putin says: Russia's actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Russia's military actions in Ukraine, which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

3. Mr Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its 2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind evidence of wide-scale corruption.

4. Mr Putin says: Ukraine's government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych "has no political future." After Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office and to support the new government. Ukraine's new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, with 371 votes - more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th - elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

5. Mr Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.

The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of refugees.

6. Mr Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.

The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no retribution against political opponents.

7. Mr Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.

The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are under threat from Russian military action.

8. Mr Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.

The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine's church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

9. Mr Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.

The Facts: Ukraine's interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.

10. Mr Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

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Brazil Stars Make Child Pitch Invader's Day

A South African boy had the night of his life after running onto the pitch at the end of a friendly match against Brazil in Soweto.

After the final whistle had blown in Brazil's 5-0 victory over South Africa at Soccer City the boy ran towards superstar forward Neymar.

Pic: BT Sport

Security staff at first attempted to usher the boy, dressed in a Springboks rugby union shirt, away .

Pic: BT Sport

But when he was spotted by the 22-year-old Barcelona player - who had just scored a hat-trick to send South African fans home disappointed - ran over and scooped up the boy in his arms.

Fellow teammates followed, all smiling broadly at the young boy's delight.

He was hoisted in the air by the players and then given his own photo opportunity.

Pic: BT Sport

Brazil and Chelsea defender David Luiz pulled his own phone out as Neymar and the little boy posed.

The result was the picture of the match - and a perfect ending for one little boy.

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Russia TV Presenter Quits On Air In Protest

A presenter for a Russian government-funded TV channel has resigned live on air, after accusing the station of "whitewashing the actions" of Vladimir Putin.

Liz Wahl, a US anchor for Russia Today America, told viewers during the broadcast: "I'm proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth and that is why after this newscast, I'm resigning."

Her grandparents fled to the US as refugees during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution to escape the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Moscow has been accused of invading Ukraine's Crimea region after months of pro-European protests there saw the nation's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, ousted.

Russia denies this, claiming the troops operating there are "self-defence" forces who do not answer to Moscow.

In a statement on Ms Wahl's actions, Russia Today said: "When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organisation, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional.

"But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.

Moscow says troops in Crimea are "self-defence" forces

"We wish Liz the best of luck on her chosen path."

Ms Wahl later tweeted: "I am grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support I have received."

Another host from the channel criticised the actions of pro-Russian forces earlier this week.

Abby Martin labelled the intervention "wrong" and said she was "strongly against" military involvement.

The channel responded by saying Ms Martin "does not possess a deep knowledge of reality of the situation in Crimea" and that she would be sent there to "make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story".

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Race Issue In Shadows During Pistorius Case

Oscar Pistorius Trial: Case Background

Updated: 12:49pm UK, Friday 28 February 2014

Two very different versions of what happened in the moments before Oscar Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp died have already been heard in court.

The athlete stands trial on Monday accused of her murder in a case that will make South African history as the first to be broadcast live for millions around the world to follow.

He denies the charge, claiming he mistook Ms Steenkamp for a burglar when he shot her in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 2013.

The prosecution says Pistorius, 26, fired his gun four times into the door of a bathroom, knowing his girlfriend was inside after an argument.

It is alleged she locked herself in the room after fleeing down a seven-metre passage from the bedroom at the runner's luxury home in Pretoria.

According to details outlined at previous hearings, the prosecution argues Pistorius followed her with his 9mm pistol, first putting on his prosthetic legs.

It is claimed he shot his gun four times through the door, killing an "unarmed and defenceless" woman, before the door was broken open from the outside.

The prosecution has rejected claims of mistaken identity - that Pistorius believed the person inside the bathroom was a burglar.

The defence, meanwhile, has alleged the defendant had "no intention" of killing Ms Steenkamp and was bereft at her death.

According to this version of events, Pistorius heard a noise in the early hours and thought an intruder had come through a bathroom window and was hiding there.

Defence lawyers claim he felt vulnerable and shouted for the intruder to get out and for Ms Steenkamp to call police.

It was dark and Pistorius thought Ms Steenkamp was lying on her bed, not that she was in the bathroom, lawyers have argued.

They claim Pistorius hobbled to the bathroom on his stumps and fired his gun - a 9mm pistol he kept under his bed because he had received death threats.

After the shooting, they said, he returned to his bed and saw Ms Steenkamp was not there.

It is alleged he shouted for help, broke open a door with a cricket bat and found she was alive before carrying her downstairs.

Pistorius wanted to protect Ms Steenkamp, not kill her, his lawyers claim.

The court battle will pit the wits of two of South Africa's leading lawyers and is expected to hear from 100 witnesses.

Pistorius has hired Kenny Oldwage, famous for helping acquit the man accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani in a drink-driving car crash.

He has also hired Barry Roux, known in court for his scarlet ties.

The trial will be one of South Africa's biggest ever legal showdowns, with Pistorius' team going up against veteran prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

The judge will be Thokozile Matilda Masipa, a former crime reporter who became only the second black woman to be appointed to the high court in 1988.

The trial, which takes place in Pretoria, will have no jurors, since trial by jury was abolished in South Africa under apartheid in 1969.

Ms Steenkamp's mother, June, has indicated she will attend the trial.

However, her father, Barry, is expected to be at home, recovering from a near-fatal stroke, which his brother said happened while reading a newspaper report about the trial.

Cameras will be able to "obtain a video and audio recording of the permitted portions" of the trial.

However, they will not be able to film the Olympic champion, defence witnesses or anyone else who objects to being on camera.

The mandatory sentence for someone convicted of premeditated murder in South Africa is life with a minimum of 25 years in prison.

:: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial from Monday, with a special highlights programme at 9.30pm.

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Gaddafi Son Saadi Extradited To Libya By Niger

Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi has arrived in Tripoli after being extradited by Niger, the Libyan government says.

Libya had been seeking the extradition of Saadi, who had fled to its southern neighbour after the toppling of his father in a Nato-backed uprising in 2011.

"The Libyan government received today Saadi Gaddafi and he arrived in Tripoli," the cabinet of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said in a statement.

Saadi has his head shaved after being extradited

Saadi, one of Gaddafi's seven sons, was being held by judiciary police forces, the government said.

It thanked Niger for its co-operation and said Saadi would be treated according to international justice standards for prisoners.

Saadi Gaddafi with Perugia during his brief international football career

The website of a government-backed militia showed what it said were pictures of Saadi wearing a blue prison uniform, calling him a criminal. Libyan news websites also ran pictures showing him with his head shaved in prison.

Saadi was known for his love of professional soccer and a playboy lifestyle. His brief career in Italian football ended after a failed drug test. He headed Libya's Football Federation and was also former head of the country's special forces.

Saadi's brother Saif al Islam is being held by militia in western Libya

He is not wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), unlike Gaddafi's most prominent son Saif al Islam.

However, Libya wants to try him for allegedly misappropriating property by force and for alleged armed intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation.

The ICC has indicted Saif al Islam for crimes against humanity. Saif, once viewed as a likely successor to his father, is held by a militia in western Libya, where he is being tried for various charges.

Fighters from the western Zintan region caught Saif al Islam in the southern desert a month after his father was captured and battered to death by a mob.

The militia has defied an order from the government to deliver him to a jail in the capital.

The dictator's son Mutassim died alongside him as they tried to escape the town of Sirte in October 2011.

Saadi's brother Mutassim with US Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton in 2009

Gaddafi senior's widow Safiya had already fled to Algeria in August 2011 with her children Aisha, Hannibal and Mohammed. They were later granted asylum by Oman.

Saif al Arab died in a Nato air strike, and Khamis was killed in fighting in August that year.

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Family Saved From Drowning: Amazing Video

A family of five have been dramatically pulled to safety from the sea in Brazil.

Lifesaver Marcelo dos Santos recorded the whole rescue through his headcam.

The group was swimming off White Beach, Bertioga, near Sao Paulo, when they found themselves floundering in deep water.

The rescuer - who works for the region's fire department - jumped onto his jet ski and rushed out to sea to help them.

Mr dos Santos picked up three members of the family first and took them on the craft back to the beach.

He returned to pick up the remaining pair, leaving them safely with their relieved loved ones.

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US Dismisses Putin's 'False Claims' On Ukraine

Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, the US has issued a blunt rebuttal of Vladimir Putin's assertions.

In a point-by-point fact sheet, the State Department spoke of "President Putin's Fiction".

It even quoted Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, saying: "The world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote,''The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

The "10 False Claims" statement follows a defiant press conference by the Russian president two days ago.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, author of Crime And Punishment

Russia, for its part, said the fact sheet represented a "primitive distortion of reality".

"It's clear that in Washington, as before, they are unable to accept a situation developing not according to their templates," said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Here is the full text of the US rebuttal:

As Russia spins a false narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine, the world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, "The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

Below are 10 of President Vladimir Putin's recent claims justifying Russian aggression in the Ukraine, followed by the facts that his assertions ignore or distort.

1. Mr Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is "citizens' defense groups," not Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

A group claiming to be citizen pro-Russian volunteers near a Ukrainian base

The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.

2. Mr Putin says: Russia's actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Russia has long-standing ties to the Crimean peninsula

The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Russia's military actions in Ukraine, which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

3. Mr Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk in the Ukrainian parliament the day of the agreement

The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its 2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind evidence of wide-scale corruption.

4. Mr Putin says: Ukraine's government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych

The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych "has no political future." After Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office and to support the new government. Ukraine's new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, with 371 votes - more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th - elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

5. Mr Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.

Mr Putin during a press conference on Tuesday

The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of refugees.

6. Mr Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.

A rally in support of ethnic Russians in Crimea

The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no retribution against political opponents.

7. Mr Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.

A Ukrainian naval base in Crimea

The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are under threat from Russian military action.

8. Mr Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Orthodox priests in Balaklava

The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine's church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

9. Mr Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.

The Crimean parliament

The Facts: Ukraine's interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.

10. Mr Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

Anti-government protesters at the entrance of the Rada last month

The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

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HIV-Positive Baby Girl 'May Be Cured'

A baby girl born with the HIV virus may have been cured as a result of very early treatment, US doctors have said.

The California child is the second case in which doctors may have brought HIV into a remission in a newborn.

The announcement, made at a medical conference in Boston, raises hopes that a way to rid babies of the virus that leads to AIDS may have been found.

"The child ... has become HIV-negative," said Dr Deborah Persaud, a paediatrics specialist with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

The girl was born in suburban Los Angeles last April. Doctors started administering anti-retroviral drugs just four hours after birth. 

She is still receiving a three-drug cocktail of anti-AIDS treatments, but Dr Persaud said a series of sophisticated tests at multiple times have suggested the baby has been completely cleared of the virus.

HIV is normally controlled with ant-retroviral drugs

A child born in Mississippi, now nearly four years old, ceased receiving anti-retroviral treatments two years ago after also appearing to have been cured.

However, it will take years to determine whether the treatment has worked.

In another AIDS-related development, scientists have modified genes in the blood cells of a dozen adults to help them resist HIV.

The results give hope that this approach might one day free at least some people from needing medicines to keep HIV under control. That study on the gene approach was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The human immuno-deficiency virus, or HIV, surfaced more than 30 years ago and now infects more than 34 million people worldwide.

Prevention measures, including condoms, have helped check its spread and antiretroviral drugs can now control the disease for decades, meaning it is no longer a death sentence.

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Pistorius Sobs As Reeva's Death Is Described

Oscar Pistorius has broken down in court as a neighbour described the moments he tried to save his mortally wounded girlfriend.

Prosecution witness Johan Stipp went to Pistorius' home after hearing shots fired on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

The radiologist said: "I got inside and there was a lady lying on her back.

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

"I also noticed a man kneeling on her side, on the left side. I remember the first thing he said when I got there was 'I shot her, I thought she was an intruder. I shot her.'"

He said he did not recognise Pistorius, and described how he tried in vain to resuscitate Ms Steenkamp.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead on Valentine's Day

"She had no pulse in her neck, she had no peripheral pulse, she had no breathing movements that she made," he said.

"She was clenching down on Oscar's fingers as he was trying to open her airway.

"I tried to do a jaw lift manoeuvre, to try to open the airway, but it was very difficult with the clenching down.

Pistorius' sister Aimee speaks to a member of Ms Steenkamp's family

"All during that time, there wasn't any signs of life that I could see.

"I opened her right eyelid. The pupil was fixed dilated, and the cornea was milky - in other words, it was already drying out.

"So to me it was obvious she was mortally wounded.

Pistorius' defence lawyer Barry Roux has been aggressive in his questioning

"I looked at the rest of her body and I noted she had a wound in her right thigh, also a wound in the right upper arm.

"During that time … Oscar was crying all the time. He prayed to God to 'please let her live, she must not die'.

"He said at one stage while he was praying 'he will dedicate his life and her life to God if she would just only live and not die that night'."

Pistorius wrote notes during the hearing on a pad of paper

He added that Pistorius looked "sincere": "He was crying, there were tears on his face. He was actively trying to assist her."

Sky's Alex Crawford, who was in court, said Pistorius was openly sobbing as the evidence was given.

Earlier, Pistorius' defence team said it would have been "impossible" for neighbours to hear screams on the night Ms Steenkamp died.

The high-profile case is being televised around the world

Lawyer Barry Roux said neighbour Charl Peter Johnson's claim that he heard gunshots followed by a woman screaming was incorrect.

"At the time you heard the deceased, she was in a locked bathroom," said Mr Roux.

"You cannot hear it inside your house ... Even standing on the balcony, it would have been impossible to hear the screams."

Pistorius' Pretoria mansion pictured after the shooting

Mr Johnson was giving evidence for a third day.

Both Mr Johnson and his wife Michelle Burger insist they heard a woman's screams during the shooting.

The issue of the sound of a woman screaming is a key point for the prosecution. The claims by neighbours that they heard the screams suggest Pistorius would have known it was Ms Steenkamp, rather than an intruder, as he fired.

Pistorius looks down at the floor in the court dock

Mr Johnson also claims he heard five or six shots on the night of the killing.

But Mr Roux pointed out that in his initial notes he wrote that he "did not count the number of shots fired".

Mr Roux said: "Three hours later you changed this paragraph, and you corrected little things.

"That is a sign that you revisited that note and amended it."

He also suggested Mr Johnson had given evidence to fit with his wife's account of the evening.

The world's media is in Pretoria to cover the high-profile case

Mr Johnson said he and his wife had spoken after the incident about what had happened, but that he did not hear her give evidence or speak to her about what she said in court.

Mr Roux said: "Your interpretation today is a designed one, it's to incriminate."

On top of the premeditated murder allegation, Pistorius faces a charge of illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

He denies all the charges against him and maintains he shot Ms Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.

The athlete could face 25 years in jail if he is found guilty by Judge Thokozile Masipa. South Africa does not have trials by jury.

 :: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide whether Pistorius is guilty

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Breivik Massacre Memorial To Cut Headland

A three-and-a-half-metre wide channel will be cut across a headland near the island of Utoya as a memorial to those killed by Anders Behring Breivik.

An artist's impression of the dramatic cut through the headland

Visitors will be able to walk down a pathway through the forest, which ends abruptly at the gap.

The names of those who died in the twin attacks will be engraved on the other side of the cut.

How the gap will look, with Utoya in the distance on the left

Breivik killed eight people in a bomb attack outside a government building in the capital Oslo on July 22, 2011.

Later that day, he killed another 69, most of them teenagers, when he opened fire at a Labour Youth camp on Utoya.

Breivik is serving a 21-year jail sentence

The land removed to create the cut will be transported to Oslo, where it will be used as the foundation for a permanent monument in the Norwegian capital.

The Utoya memorial - called Memory Wound - was conceived by Swedish artist Jonas Dahlberg and was the winner of an open design contest.

A path will lead through the forest, ending abruptly at the gap

Mr Dahlberg said: "The names (of the victims) will be close enough to see and read clearly, yet ultimately out of reach.

"This cut is an acknowledgement of what is forever irreplaceable."

The names of the victims will be out of reach, but fully visible

Breivik is serving a 21-year jail term and is kept away from other prisoners for his own safety.

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