After five days of relentless cross-examination that left Oscar Pistorius quivering , sobbing and fumbling , the athlete 's defense team now has a chance to discredit the prosecution by presenting its witnesses . During cross-examination , prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused the athlete of inconsistencies and contradictions in his testimony . His aim is to prove that Pistorius intentionally shot and killed his girlfriend , Reeva Steenkamp , after a heated argument in the early hours of Valentine 's Day last year . The defense team now gets its chance to cast doubt on that account and prove that the star sprinter shot his girlfriend through a closed bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder . Defense attorney Barry Roux called forensics expert Roger Dixon , who disputed a conclusion by a pathologist on the cause of Steenkamp 's back wounds . The pathologist said they were made by a bullet ricochet . Dixon said they were made by a magazine rack . The autopsy said they were made by a blunt , hard object . Nel took every opportunity to discredit Dixon , including questioning his ballistics evidence when he said none of the bullets missed Steenkamp , while the state expert had said one did . `` You see how irresponsible it is to make inferences in areas where you 're not an expert ? '' Nel told him . At one point , Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered the state prosecutor to be less aggressive in his questioning . Valentine 's Day card . Pistorius has maintained he was terrified when he heard noises from the bathroom . When he entered the bathroom and heard a noise behind the closed toilet door , he pulled the trigger without thinking , believing an intruder was inside . And in an apparent bid to show their romance was not as rocky as portrayed by the prosecution , Pistorius on Tuesday read a card that Steenkamp had planned to give him on Valentine 's Day . `` Roses are red , violets are blue , I think today is a good day to tell you that I love you , '' the message read . Last week , Pistorius , 27 , took the stand for the first time since the trial started on March 3 to testify about what happened on the fateful day . During his cross-examination , the prosecution released details of his relationship with the model and law school graduate , which began in November 2012 . It included text messages retrieved from their phones . Nel accused him of acting selfishly toward Steenkamp , picking on her and shunning a declaration of love that she sent via a phone message . The court also heard audio recordings Dixon had made of a cricket bat striking a door similar to the one in Pistorius ' toilet , and of gunshots fired through the door . Prosecution witnesses have testified to hearing a woman scream , followed by gun shots , but the defense disputes their testimony , saying the only scream came from Pistorius after he had fired the fatal shots . The trial was later adjourned for the day . Gripping trial . If Pistorius is found guilty of premeditated murder , he faces 25 years to life in prison . The defense team will call 14 to 17 witnesses , Roux said when he opened his case . The trial is scheduled to continue until the middle of May . Masipa will decide the verdict in collaboration with two experts called assessors . South Africa does not have jury trials . The trial has gripped South Africa and sports fans worldwide who considered Pistorius a symbol of triumph over physical adversity . His disabled lower legs were amputated when he was a baby , but he went on to achieve global fame as the `` Blade Runner , '' winning numerous Paralympic gold medals on the steel blades fitted to his prostheses . Only those in the courtroom saw Pistorius on the stand , because he chose not to testify on camera . His testimony could be heard in an audio feed . The trial will be postponed until May 5 after Thursday 's session per the state 's request , the judge said .
After Thursday 's session , the trial will be postponed until May 5 . Prosecutor has accused the athlete of inconsistencies and contradictions . The defense calls forensics expert Roger Dixon . He disputes a pathologist 's explanation of victim Reeva Steenkamp 's back wounds .