A new book on the Oscar Pistorius trial has been published by Eyewitness News journalists Barry Bateman and Mandy Wiener.
The book talks about the killing of South African model Reeva Steenkamp and claims certain evidences were not brought up by the prosecution during court hearing.
In "Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Story," Bateman and Wiener claims that Pistorius had talked to his ex girlfriend on the phone the night before fatally shooting Steenkamp in their own home.
He had reportedly talked to Jenna Edkins (registered as Babyshoes on the athlete's phone) for nine minutes at 6PM on February 13. Pistorius shot Steenkamp at 3AM the next day. The journalists see this as a key evidence that was not brought up during Oscar Pistorius' trial.
The book authors point out that police and prosecutors were not able to bring up the evidence in court simply because Edkins' phone was registered under her father's name.
Another reason for this, according to Bateman and Wiener, is that Carl Pistorius had tampered with his younger brother's phone right after the shooting. He allegedly deleted call logs and WhatsApp messages that were supposedly incriminating.
The Pistorius family denied the alleged tampering.
Edkins declined to answers questions about her involvement, according to the the International Business Times. She also insisted that her friendship with the Blade Runner even after breaking up was common knowledge.
According to a source from The Week, the defence knew about the phone call and already had Edkins ready to testify for Pistorius should the prosecution use that piece of character evidence as a "smoking gun."
Could the omitted call have affected Judge Thozokile Masipa's final verdict of culpable homicide for the Oscar Pistorius trial? Based on the judge's dismissal of all arguments pertaining to the couple's relationship, the call would have little effect to the final verdict.
The Paralympian will go back to the courtroom for sentencing on October 13. According to The Week it could take days for the proceedings to finish with both parties giving their arguments on whether to give Pistorius a lighter or heavier punishment.
Do you think the phone call should have been brought up in the Oscar Pistorius trial?
