Prosecutors End Pistorius Questioning Citing Intent to Kill

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has finished his cross-examination of South African runner Oscar Pistorius by telling the court that Pistorius meant to shoot and kill his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Tuesday's court session was the fifth day that Nel and Pistorius sparred over details of last year's killing, as the prosecution sought to counter the athlete's defense that he thought he was shooting at a nighttime intruder.

Nel closed by offering the bullet points of the prosecution's case as Pistorius once again denied them.

Nel: "She locked herself into the toilet, you armed yourself for the sole purpose of shooting and killing her."

Pistorius: "That's not true, my lady."

Nel: "And that's what you did. Afterwards, indeed, you were overcome by what you've done."

Pistorius: "That is true, my lady."

Nel: "Only because it was your intention to kill her. You realize that."

Pistorius: "On the opposite, my lady."

Nel spent a large part of his questioning Tuesday focused on the bathroom where Steenkamp was shot, particularly on the location of a magazine rack at the time of the shooting. He asserted it was located next to the blood-stained toilet, while Pistorius said someone had placed it there afterward.

The athlete's defense team is continuing presenting its case to the court. Pistorius was the second of what they have said would be 14 to 17 witnesses they planned to call.

If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.

Pistorius is known as the "blade runner" for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs. He has won many Paralympic Games medals, and was the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics.